Viktoria Köln had a clear chance against Rot-Weiss Essen, but Essen’s passionate defense and goalkeeper Jakob Golz kept the zero.
So separated on Wednesday evening (08/23/2023) Victoria Cologne and Rot-Weiss Essen in the Höhenberg sports park with a 0-0 draw.
However, one point is enough for Viktoria to climb to the top of the table with seven points for the time being. Cologne have the better goal difference than FC Erzgebirge Aue, who are in second place. Essen has now taken two points from three games and is in 16th place.
Powerful start for Rot-Weiss Essen
The hosts were from Red and white food put under a lot of pressure right at the start of the game. Striker Ron Berlinski did a lot of pressing work, even through the Essen chains behind him a constructive ball from Viktoria rarely slipped.
The first dangerous offensive scene also belonged to RWE: Lucas Brumme’s cross from an acute angle ended up in a missile that Ben Voll had to parry for a corner (8′). Isaiah Young, who stressed Cologne’s left-back, was also conspicuous throughout the first half.
Viktoria Cologne takes control
But little by little, Viktoria worked her way into the game and took over the scepter. In the end, Cologne clearly had the advantage on their side, at the break the goal difference was 10:2 in favor of the people on the right bank of the Rhine. Among other things, Niklas May failed twice free-standing against the brilliantly parrying RWE goalkeeper Jakob Golz (24th), and David Philipp’s shot was also shot wide by Golz (43rd).
Essen hadn’t even taken place there offensively. From Cologne’s point of view, there was still excitement before the half-time break: Essen’s Vinko Sapina brought down Michael Schultz in the penalty area in the heat of the moment, but the whistle of referee Leonidas Exuzidis remained silent.
Goalkeeper Jakob Golz keeps RWE in the game
Nothing changed in the balance of power after the restart. Cologne pressed, with Essen also setting individual accents. The approximately 3,500 fans who had traveled with them made themselves loudly heard and pushed RWE forward. However, the game remained open, the pace was high.
Viktoria Köln’s Philipp had the first good opportunity in this phase, but was only second winner in a private duel with Golz after a strong cross from Donny Bogicevic (65th). The RWE keeper then became Essener of the game at the latest when he defused May’s big chance in the six-yard box with an outstretched leg (69′).
In the end, both teams could have even decided the game in their favor: After a counterattack, Essen joker Leonardo Vonic missed an opportunity (86th), in added time Jeremias Lorch was only centimeters short (90th + 2).
Cologne travels to Bavaria, RWE welcomes Münster
On the 4th day of play, Viktoria Cologne travel to Bavaria to play against SpVgg Unterhaching (Saturday, 2 p.m.). Red and white food meanwhile welcomes SC Preußen Münster (Sunday, 7.30 p.m.).
