Relegation second leg lost: Rot-Weiss Essen is not promoted

As of: May 27, 2026 • 1:58 a.m

Big disappointment at the public viewing in downtown Essen: Rot Weiss Essen missed out on promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga.

Relegation second leg between Red and White Eat and SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Admission to the public viewing opens at 6:00 p.m. at Kennedyplatz in downtown Essen. The police estimate that around 8,000 people watched the game there.

29th minute: 1-0 for Greuther Fürth

Then the game starts. Essen got into the game well, and the RWE fans were already screaming for goal twice in the early stages. But Fürth’s goalkeeper prevented an early Kennedyplatz ecstasy. But then the setback: Fürth suddenly takes the lead after a poke in the penalty area. Horror among the RWE fans in front of the huge screen. But shortly afterwards the cheers come: “Let’s go RWE, let’s go RWE!”

The second half starts with the next shock: Fürth increases to 2-0. The hit is initially a mood killer. But then RWE gets back into the game better – and scores to make it 1-2. Kennedyplatz is transformed into a madhouse with countless beer showers.

But the damper comes again: again it was offside. “That can’t be true,” curses a fan. When Essen’s Müsel doesn’t hit the almost empty goal, the fans are completely stunned.

RWE misses promotion

In the end it remains 0:2. RWE still missed out on promotion. Some fans have tears in their eyes, hug each other and comfort each other. Many people quickly leave Kennedyplatz. Some still need a while to realize what just happened. The soundtrack that blares from the speakers: “Get up when you’re down.”

Despite the fans’ frustration and sadness over the lost game, the emergency services had little to do. The situation in downtown Essen remained clear and calm, say the police.

A few minutes later, Yannik Bruckmann is standing with a friend on Kennedyplatz and discussing the game. “If we had used the top-class players, there would have been something,” he is sure. “Pretty disappointed,” says his friend Marco Levak, describing his emotional state and arguing: “We had the chance to close the bag.”

“Cry a lot”

A few meters away, Ann-Cathrin Brauers and her family and friends are also mourning the missed climb. “The pain,” she says, “is very deep, especially after the two goals that didn’t count.” And how do you want to process this pain? “Crying a lot,” a friend from her group interjects. But: There is still a declaration of war: “Next season it can 3rd league be careful. Only the RWE,” shouts Yannick Brauers. The fans remain loyal to their club – regardless of whether they are promoted or not.

There should be one Ascension party become

There was a foretaste of the hoped-for promotion party earlier in the evening when the first fan chants and the promotion song were sung on stage almost an hour before kick-off. “We will never forget food. We are the fans of Rot-Weiss Essen,” it echoes across the square.

There has been a rush of fans since the afternoon

At this point, Collin and Patrick are one of the first to stand in front of the huge screen on Kennedyplatz. The two friends from Essen arrived at 5 p.m., an hour before the supporting program started. “We wanted to have a good place,” Collin says. He is excited, but also confident: “I have confidence in the team.”

Mario Balsz also came to Kennedyplatz early. He has parked his electric vehicle in front of the stage and has an RWE sticker on his red prosthesis. He has been through a lot with RWE over the past decades: from reaching the cup final in 1994, where he was also there live, to relegation to the 5th league. A promotion would mean all the more to him: “The club means everything to me. It’s the greatest thing of all for me,” he says.

Fans arrive with camping chairs and drinks

A few meters away, Miriam Löhr is setting up her camping chair. There is a cooler bag with drinks next to her. “We are prepared,” says Löhr and laughs. After all, it still takes a while until kick-off. She came to the public viewing with family and friends. She is also confident that RWE will defend its lead from the first leg. What’s going on in the city then? “Then food is torn down, then everything is good and white.”

Martin Borlik is optimistic: “We can handle it today,” shouts the season ticket holder, who came with his friend Benjamin Dömpke. “Only the RWE!”

That didn’t work out in the end. “Only the RWE!” – now back in the 3rd league.

Our sources:

Broadcast: WDR.de, Rot-Weiß Essen is not rising, May 27, 2026, 1:35am
Broadcast: WDR televisionlocal time Ruhr, May 26, 20267:30 p.m