Despite a strong performance in the first home game of the third division season, Energie Cottbus was not rewarded. The team of coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz had to be satisfied with a 3: 3 goal in the last minute.
The FC Energie Cottbus has to accept a bitter draw at the start of the third division season. Despite three goals, the Lausitzer could not win the home game in the Cottbus stadium and now have to live with a late 3: 3 (2: 1). In doing so, they missed the first three points to get on their way to relegation. An early double pack from Tolcay Cigerci earned Cottbus in the lead. Energy showed a courageous performance and always had an answer to the first two Saarbrücken goals. However, the Saarlanders stayed tuned and still equalized at the last minute.
Energie Cottbus is investing in infrastructure instead of legs
After six weeks of the season preparation, it gets serious for Energie Cottbus. With sharpened senses and a home game against Saarbrücken, coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz and Co. will start the new season on Saturday. By Andreas Friebelmore
The course of the game
Energy dominant started the game and defensively stood stable in the newly formed chain of four. A rehearsed corner variant quickly ensured the deserved Cottbus leadership. The flat cross from Henry Rorig let striker Erik Engelhardt Clever on Cigerci, who walved ice cold to the lead from the back room (13th minute). Just a little later, Cottbus almost added. After a strong pass from Cigerci, newcomer Justin Butler just barely shot past the goal in the penalty area.
However, the Cottbusers did not even think of turning back a gear. The playful left -back Leon Guwara saw the Cigerci completely free on the right after a solo. He could not be asked twice and slammed the ball past Saarbrücken goalkeeper Phillip Menzel into the corner (21st).
But only five minutes later the shock at Saarbrücken’s first serious attack followed: on a flank through Lasse Wilhelm from the right side, the Cottbus defensive Tim Civeja lost sight of it, who headed dryly. Shortly before half-time, the team of coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz could have increased again. Cigerci staged Butler, who could not use the top -class double chance of 3-1 and failed twice on goalkeeper Menzel.
Saarbrücken transforms penalty
Even at the beginning of the second round, energy was the team -stronger team and always came dangerously in front of the Saarbrücken goal. In the 57th minute, Guwara sent butler on the left, who brought the ball sharply into the sixteen. There Engelhardt turned around his own axis and put the ball considered 3-1 into the far corner (57th).
As with the 2-0, Saarbrücken quickly struck back. After an unfortunate handball by Jonas Hofmann on the penalty area border, referee Martin Wilke pointed to the penalty point. Saarbrückens Florian Pick confidently converted the due penalty into the middle (61st). Shortly before the end, it burned again in the penalty area of the Cottbuser – and they diligently helped. After a flank from the right side, energy goalkeeper Elias Bethke first misjudged, then Florian Pick shot. Its conclusion crashed into his own network from the Cottbus defender Tim Campulka-and Saarbrücken cheered the last-minute compensation.
Player of the day
As in the past, he seems to be the difference at Energie Cottbus: Tolcay Cigerci. The man with number ten on his back was again in the first game of the season against Saarbrücken again in the cotted and focal point in the Cottbus offensive game. First he met twice, then he initiated two more actions, which could also have leaded to goals. But Cigerci was not just offensive. The technically experienced Cottbuser worked tirelessly backwards and was also the reason for many early ball winnings in counterpressing.
Cottbus player Tolcay Cigerci cheers his goal to 1-0
What was going on there?
While the trouble about the bitter equalization will determine the emotional situation of every Cottbus fan at the last minute, however, a sustainable news remains from the game. After his goal for the 1-0 lead, Cigerci put the ball under his jersey, thumbs in his mouth and cheered towards the grandstand. In the interview after the game, he confirmed that young people were on the way. And maybe if Cigerci will soon make the right choice in the fanshop, in 20 years a new energy access with the surname Cigerci will be cited in his imagination: ‘I’ve always slept into Cottbus bedding’.
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Broadcast: RBB24 Inforadio, 02.08.2025, 4:15 p.m.
