Despite an early lead, Rot-Weiss Essen against TSV 1860 Munich did not get beyond a draw in the opening game of the 3rd division.
The two clubs separated on Friday evening at Essener Hafenstraße 1: 1 (1-0). Jose-Enrique Rios-Alonso (6th) put Essen in the lead early, Florian Niederlechner (68th) equalized for the guests.
In the first game of the season, Essen had to do without regular goalkeeper Jakob Golz (inflammation in the knee), Felix Wienand started for him. The newcomer Luca Bazzoli (flu infection) signed by Prussia Münster also had to fit at short notice. Captain Michael Schultz ran for him in the defense chain.
Dream start for RWE
RWE caught a measure and took the lead with the first chance of the game. Kevin Volland was only half-heartedly able to make a throw-in from Tom Moustier into the 60s penalty, so that Moustier could bring the ball out of the right side again. His flank was deflected by a Munich man and landed on the head of the incoming Rios-Alonso (6th), which pressed the ball on the first post from a short distance over the line.
There was not much of the lions in the first 15 minutes, food had the next opportunity: Ahmet Arslan (15th) put a header after a Hofmann flank just next to the left post. At a corner, the Munich team became dangerous for the first time when RWE keeper Wienand scratched a header by Jesper Verlaat (17th) from the right angle.
Safi leaves a second goal
Shortly afterwards Essen had a huge chance of 2-0. From his own half, Kaito Müzua played a dream pass into the course of Ramien Safi (23rd), who turned over the ball in the penalty area 1860 goalkeeper Thomas Dähne and stepped over the ball in front of the empty goal.
On the other hand, Wienand fought off a massive but too unplaced shot from Tunay Deniz (26th) from 16 meters with the fists. In a similar scene for RWE for RWE (34th), the edge of the penalty area, Munich’s goalkeeper Dähne was on hand. Overall, RWE defended compactly in the first half and only gave a few chances against often unimaginated Munich.
Crate with luck at foul against Volland
After the break, the red and white were very lucky that Tobias Krichich, who was already warned with yellow (51st) after a foul on Volland shortly before the Essen penalty area, did not flew off the square with yellow-red. Volland stood up again after the foul and continued to play, referee Felix Weller probably hadn’t seen the foul.
Essen left the ball to the guests over long distances and lurked on counterattack, Munich continued to. A low shot from Volland (61.) on the short corner barely stroked past the post, on the other hand, Arslan (63.) set a half-volley attempt next to the short corner.
Niederlechner hits to compensate
Finally, the lions managed to equalize. Sean Dulic played a long ball behind the RWE triangle to the Niederlechner (68th) lurking on the outline, who overcame the Essen goalkeeper Wienand, who rushes out of his goal with a lupfer.
In the final phase, the game was completely open, but there were hardly any chances. RWE still had a good opportunity by Arslan (81st), whose Schlenzer was warded off from about 20 meters by dowers.
Our sources:
- Livestream at Magenta Sport
- Live ticker at Sportschau.de
