Chaos in Siegen's U21 match: Whistle resumes play after temporary halt
Siegen. In the season finale, the top teams of the Oberliga Westfalen played a draw - the Sportfreunde celebrated with almost 5,000 fans.
The Oberliga season concluded for the U21 of VfL Bochum and SF Siegen in a promotion duel, with an attendance of 4,893 spectators. The game ended in a 1:1 stalemate, with Siegen claiming the championship on their home turf at the Leimbach stadium. The rain was accompanied by beer and champagne showers amidst curious scenes before the match.
When the first lightning bolt struck the Leimbach stadium, referee Felix Weller called for halftime, temporarily halting the game for around 25 minutes. Continuation was delayed as lightning struck again in the second half, forcing a 15-minute halt inside the player tunnel. In the meantime, coaches Heiko Butscher and Thorsten Nehrbauer engaged in conversation while referee Weller examined VfL player Nico Pulver's phone.
Following the restart, the match remained manageable amidst the pouring rain. Farewells and championship celebrations were central for Sportfreunde Siegen, focusing on players Mats Scheld, Tobias Filipzik, and Artur Tomas, while Niklas Lübcke featured for VfL during the second half, preventing a defeat with two good saves. The goals had already been scored in the early stages: Mats Scheld netted a farewell goal with a powerful direct free kick, and Lennart Koerdt leveled the score in the 11th minute following an assist from Luca Bernsdorf.
With both teams progressing to the Regionalliga West, they will face each other again next season. Preparations for that encounter are set to begin for Heiko Butscher's team in two weeks.
Additional Information
- Standout talents on the VfL roster: Kojic & Co.
- Niklas Lübcke, a promising talent, earning his VfL debut in the final game.
SF Siegen - VfL Bochum U21 1:1 Oberliga Westfalen
VfL lineup (46': Lübcke): Rölleke - Abdat (66': Nwubani), Tasic, Hülsenbusch, Bernsdorf - Njike Nana, Holtkamp, Koerdt (66': Dreca), Özdemir (52': Heuser) - Kojic - Boafo
Goals: 1:0 Scheld (5'), 1:1 Koerdt (11')
As of the conclusion of the game, details regarding the outcome of the SFS versus VfL match have not been reported.
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European leagues witnessed an exciting clash as SF Siegen and VfL Bochum U21 fought for promotion in the Oberliga Westfalen. Despite the rain, Siegen emerged victorious at their home ground, Leimbach stadium, after a tense 1-1 draw with Lennart Koerdt scoring for VfL and Mats Scheld netting a farewell goal for Siegen.
