Energie Cottbus missed the qualification for the relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga. But there was a small consolation.
- Cottbus loses 1: 4 against Ingolstadt on the last match day
- Saarbrücken moves to the relegation place through the victory against Dortmund II
- This is no longer possible for the second division promotion for energy
- Energy in the final table in 4th place, which means the qualification for the DFB Cup
Energie Cottbus missed the 3rd place in the table of the 3rd division and thus the qualification for the relegation games for the 2nd Bundesliga.
The Claus-Dieter Wollitz team performed a combative performance, but did not act consistently enough in the decisive moments on the defensive. Ryan Malone (26th), Sebastian Grönning (75th), Yannick Deichmann (90.+2) and Deniz Zeitler (90.+4) scored the goals for Ingolstadt. Ingolstadt’s Felix Keidel in the meantime made the own goal compensation (34th).
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The course of the game
The mood before the kick -off was brilliant. Everything was prepared for a Lausitzer football festival and Cottbus started lively. In the 3rd minute Timmy Thiele came to the ball promising, but the energy striker got no pressure behind his header. A lot ran in the initial phase over the lively Tolcay Cigerci, including in the 11th minute, when the midfielder narrowly missed the Ingolstadt box after a strong individual campaign by volley.
Ingolstadt initially waited and tried to be compact on the defensive. The team of trainer Sabrina Wittmann noticed that she had recently lost four times in a row. But with its first dangerous attack, the FCI brought the atmosphere in the stadium to succumb: Felix Keidel headed a flank from the right half field from the left five -meter corner into the middle, where Ryan Malone pressed the ball into his stitch with his head. The 0: 1 in the 26th minute was a shock moment for the eleven of coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz, but it quickly recovered.
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Cottbus comes back through the own goal
Ten minutes later, Cottbus caused a risk of goal again, and that with full force: First Cigerci narrowly failed with a deflected free kick (33.), then Ingolstadt clarified a Copado degree on the line (34.), before the Lausitzer was finally allowed to cheer: The Ingolstadt Keidel had completed a cross from Bretschneider (34th). Inspired by the equalization, energy was attacked by the Ingolstadt goal. Shortly before the break, ex-energy striker Tim Heike had the great chance of a counterattack, but mashed miserably in front of the goal. The 1-1 at the break was performance -based, even if Cottbus was the better because it was more active.
After the restart, Cottbus started the game extremely passionately. A shot from Bretschneider was just able to block the FCI defense (48th), a header on Filip Kusic barely stroked the goal (50th). But Ingolstadt remained dangerous and shocked the Lausitzer again: top striker Sebastian Grönning used a cross with his head to 1: 2. The 17th goal of the season for the future Herthan.
Since Saarbrücken had equalized against Dortmund II at the same time, energy had slipped to 4th place at that time. But Cottbus fought and pressed tirelessly to equalize, but this would not have been enough from the 83rd minute. Saarbücken took the lead against BVB and from then on energy would have needed two goals. This effort was no longer granted to the Lausitzers that day. Yannick Deichmann and Deniz Zeitler made everything clear for Ingolstadt with two more goals.
The fan march of energy fans on Saturday afternoon. (Image: Picture Alliance/dpa | Frank Hammerschmidt)
What was going on there?
Before the kick -off, it crackled in Lusatia. 8,000 energy fans took part in a fan march through the Cottbus city center. The stadium, except for the sparse guest block, was fully occupied with energy fans who are happy to expect. Most of them followed the call of the association and the active fan scene and appeared in white fan outfit. An impressive choreo shortly before the kick -off had created the perfect setting for a Cottbus football festival.
But after the final whistle and the missed relegation, the tears and disappointment in Lusatia predominated, although the 4th place in the table was qualified for the DFB Cup main round in the coming season.
Player of the day
On this day, no Cottbuser could play in the hearts of the spectators. Tolcay Cigerci was agile, but remained lucky, as did scorhräger Timmy Thiele, who fought tears completely after the game was closed.
Lifting a player out of the Ingolstadt team would also not reflect the course of the game, which is why this title goes to the entire collective of FC Ingolstadt. The team had previously remained seven games without a win, lost four times in a row and offered FC Energie Cottbus a big fight in this game, in which the “Schanzer” was no longer a sporty. Before this sporting attitude, as a neutral observer, you simply have to pull your hat off.
Voices to the game
Claus Dieter Wollitz (trainer, Energie Cottbus): “There is a lot of emptiness right now. For us, this is a maximum disappointment, until 1: 2 we were the clearly better team. But with the 1: 3 frustration and sadness. Something like that is part of life. The relegation would have been a highlight and would have given the environment and the club a huge boost.”
Timmy Thiele (Energie Cottbus): “First a big thank you to all fans. That just hurts. But situations of such situations are part of football. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it, but it was a crass good season for us. The fans gave us everything. We will come back and attack next season.”
Pascal Testroet (FC Ingolstadt): “We are really happy for today. You can’t say goodbye to the league better. We will now take a few cold drinks.”
The live ticker to look for
Broadcast: RBBBEIECHT, May 17th, 2025, 4 p.m.
