Crisis and crowd upset eclipsed Red-White Essen's victory celebration
Rot-Weiss Essen Secures DFB-Pokal Berth in Thrilling Niederrhein-Pokal Final
Rot-Weiss Essen will participate in the upcoming DFB-Pokal after a dramatic 2-1 victory over MSV Duisburg in the Niederrhein-Pokal final. The third division team overturned an early deficit in an emotional derby played before a sell-out crowd of 27,000 spectators.
The game's decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when Essen striker Dominik Martinovic collapsed following a duel with Thilo Topken. Duisburg, trailing in their own stadium, pushed for an equalizer, but the result remained unchanged.
The heated encounter saw several instances of pushing and shouting, with emotions running high. However, Uwe Koschinat's side proved resilient, securing their third consecutive state cup victory. "Our second half of the season was instrumental in our win," Koschinat said in an ARD interview. "We faced a resilient opponent, but my team demonstrated once again their ability to triumph in close games."
Duisburg took an early lead in an unusual fashion, as Florian Egerer's long-range shot deflected off Steffen Meuer to catch Goalkeeper Felix Wienand off guard. After equalizing just before halftime through Klaus Gjasula, Essen sprang to life in the second half, with Ramien Safi heading in the go-ahead goal.
Despite MSV's efforts, they were unable to create any significant opportunities against Essen's sturdy defense. Essen countered without success, but their victory was deserved, according to the coaches.
Controversy arose during the first half, as an emergency rescue operation was required, and a fan was taken to the hospital after a trailer incident. Duisberg fans temporarily stopped their support, while Essen's continued. Dietmar Hirsch, MSV coach, expressed his dismay in an ARD interview, stating, "I find it outrageous that the Essen fans continued singing despite the gravity of the situation. Our audience held back."
The incident did not overshadow the regional record attendance at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, making it the largest crowd ever seen at a Lower Rhine cup final. The high-risk status of the police-classified derby between Ruhr clubs was reflected in the enhanced security arrangements.
The Niederrhein-Pokal final win has solidified Rot-Weiss Essen's entry into the upcoming DFB-Pokal, marking their third consecutive state cup victory. Despite a thrilling Champions League season, the allure of football persists across European leagues.
