Rot-Weiss Essen is about to be promoted to the 2nd league. The relegation first leg against Greuther Fürth was decided by a brilliant free kick from Torben Müsel, who scored RWE to a 1-0 (0-0) win in the 62nd minute.
Some played their last second division game in 2007, the others are number one in the all-time table of the second division due to their long-term stay – now both are fighting in the relegation for the last place in the lower house for the next season. Essen qualified with a last-minute win at SSV Ulm (3:2), Fürth shot Fortuna Düsseldorf directly into the 3rd league with a 3-0 win and into the two additional finals.
Essen is annoyed by Futkeu’s luck
Game number one was extremely robust from the start. Referee Daniel Schlager made life a little difficult for himself when he showed José Enrique Rios-Alonso a yellow card after just three minutes, thus putting himself in trouble for the difficult minutes to come. Especially in the 14th minute, when Noel Futkeu rammed RWE defender Ben Hüning far from the ball and was not warned.
Essen complained vehemently, not just because of the unequal treatment, but because of a crucial detail. For Futkeu, who had scored seven goals in the last five second division games and was top scorer, it would have been the fifth yellow card of the season, which would have meant a ban for the second leg.
Lots of atmosphere, little football – then Fürth will become stronger
Not much happened in terms of football, it was heated, on and off the pitch. According to club information, RWE could have sold 85,000 tickets for the game, and the approximately 16,700 spectators who received a ticket created an atmosphere appropriate to the occasion. Jannik Dehm almost crashed it, his crossbar crash from 25 meters was the first sporting highlight of the game (16th). Another Fürth player took care of the second, Futkeu narrowly missed taking the lead with an overhead kick (38′).
Even shortly after the break, the second division team didn’t miss much to make it 1-0; this time Essen’s goalkeeper Jakob Golz prevented the goal from being conceded after a strong finish from Branimir Hrgota (50′). Shortly afterwards, Dehm narrowly missed the lead again with his second top long-range shot (54′).
Müsel fails spectacularly and hits spectacularly
Fürth deserved the first goal, but then had to survive a shocking moment in order not to fall behind. Torben Müsel volleyed a bad pass from Silas Scheckrock, but the goalkeeper sprinted back to his goal and barely scratched the ball off the line, and he was also there for Ramien Safi’s follow-up shot (58th).
At that moment Müsel failed – but then the 26-year-old made his big appearance. At 121 kilometers per hour, the Essen offensive player fired a free kick from 22 meters straight into the corner and turned the stadium into a red and white party cauldron with his dream goal (62nd). The dream of returning to the second division after 19 years was now even more real.
Dehm gets away without being sent off
Essen was now in control and even worked on the second goal, but was once again unlucky with a referee decision. Dehm, who had already been warned, cleared Michael Kostka on the sideline, but Schlager decided not to send the Fürth right-back off with a yellow-red card (71′). There was also a bit of luck missing when Ruben Reisig headed the ball from five meters after a corner, but didn’t hit the goal (83′).
This also applied three minutes later when Müsel set up a dream for Kaito Mizuta, whose acrobatic volley went well over (87′). It was the last opportunity, after Fürth was superior, Essen earned the first leg victory in the relegation with a strong 30 minutes. RWE is still missing a draw for promotion to the 2nd league, the second leg takes place on Tuesday (8.30 p.m.) in Fürth.