On the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga, clubs traditionally report from the abyss, this time Fortuna Düsseldorf and Werder Bremen. The protocol of the relegation battle final.
The initial situation: Everything depends on the Fortuna. If Düsseldorf wins at Union, Werder has relegated. If Düsseldorf plays in a tie, Werder needs a four-goal win against Cologne to reach the relegation. If Düsseldorf loses, Werder still needs a win. Düsseldorf has relegated from the Bundesliga five times (1967, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2013). Werder only once (1980).
Excitement before the game: Harm Osmers, referee of the game Düsseldorf against Union, was born in Bremen. Why the DFB brought the referee into this predicament has so far been a mystery.
Voices before the game: “We have a great mentality and today it is important to bring the lead over the finish line to the finish line.” (Uwe Rösler, Trainer Fortuna Düsseldorf): “It only applies: knife between the teeth and out there.” (Florian Kohfeldt, trainer Werder Bremen).
0-15. Minute: Werder starts the game briskly, but of course they have to win too. Yuya Osako and Milot Rashica have good chances to finish, Rashica’s shot is sharp but too imprecise. Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn claps him. Almost in return, Jiri Pavlenka Werder saves the result. The Bremen goalkeeper reacted quickly to a shot from Anthony Modeste.
In Berlin, Fortuna Union leaves the ball, also understandable – a draw would be enough for Düsseldorf, as long as Werder does not fall into a goal rush. And Bremen scored only nine goals in the Weser Stadium throughout the season. Fortuna had the first chance in the 13th minute. Ken Reichel clears a header from Kaan Ayhan on the line. In Bremen, meanwhile, it is said that a thunderstorm is coming.
15. – 30. Minute: Rashica again. The fast Kosovar, in the unanimous opinion of the best Bremen striker, tries to sprint through two Cologne defenders. When he realizes that it will not work, he tries to play the Niclas filling jug that has run with him, but is too imprecise. Which doesn’t matter a short time later, because Werder scores the first goal of the day. Marco Friedl dribbles along the sixteen, suits Maximillian Eggestein, who finds Osako with a sharp, almost ingenious pass through Cologne’s defense. He takes the ball and shoots it into the top right corner of the goal.
Union meanwhile has a corner kick in Berlin. Düsseldorf coach Uwe Rösler had warned before the game that the opponent was strong in standards. He was right. A corner of Trimmel falls down and Anthony Ujah, who is ex-Bremen, dustes off; Goalkeeper Rafa Gikiewicz is still on, the ball is knocked away, but the goal line technology shows: inside. The video referee says: everything is okay. Düsseldorf is now in 17th place.
And in Bremen? The madness breaks out. The short version: Tor Rashica, Tor Füllkrug. The long version: This time the Kosovar is successful with his plan to dribble the Cologne defense alone. After two so-called Fjörtoft climbers (see relegation battle 98/99) and a hook, his shot strikes through Horn’s legs. Shortly thereafter, all of Bremen screams “hand” – only Friedl does not, who continues playing, flanking, filling mug, who pushes the ball to 3: 0. Now Bremen is still missing a gate to save the draw. The thunderstorm did not come, by the way, instead the sun shines over the Easter dike.
30th to 45th minute: The focus is on the old forester. At the moment, the Fortuna is just one door to the rescue, but the football term for its condition after the deficit is probably “shocked”. Düsseldorf is becoming more active (sure, what else), but forward speed and precision are lacking, striker Rouwen Hennings remains without a shot on the goal, each cross is either decapitated by Union, or Gikiewicz has his fists in between. Berlin, as is well known for its strong standards, fends off all corners.
And Bremen? Do not score another goal at first. Rashica has the best chance, but his shot hisses past the goal. Pavlenka gets a knee to his head, but can continue. So it goes into the break – and the sun continues to shine in Bremen.
45. – 60. Minute: The green and white hope still hangs on a Düsseldorf gate – for nine minutes. Then Ayhan wants to head a ball away, but puts it at the feet of Ujah (ex-Bremer), who gives to Christian Gentner, who makes it 2-0.
And Bremen? The short version: Gate Klaasen, Gate Osako. The long version: Rashica dribbles through the Cologne defense for the umpteenth time, hitting the ball against the post. From there he bounces back on Davy Klaassen, who is not offside, who makes it 4-0. Shortly afterwards Osako stands alone after a Gebre-Selassie cross in the penalty area and makes it 5-0. Why not all of Bremen has escalated completely at this point? Because Dominick Drexler made it 1: 5 just four minutes later (after a hair-raising pass from Rashica). At 4:50 p.m. Düsseldorf is missing three gates to hope.
60. – 75. Minute: What to say Milot Rashica has meanwhile started to make the Cologne defense completely round with each of his actions. This time he claims the ball against two, passes it on to substitute Josh Sargent. He does it 6: 1.
The Fortuna, which still has to score three goals, doesn’t even shoot one. Kenan Karaman goes nowhere, Hennings’ shot is blocked – and substitute Markus Suttner hits the crossbar. Shortly thereafter, Hennings shoots past again. Fortuna is running out of time.
75. – 90. Minute: Düsseldorf shows signs of despair. Dusseldorf goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier goes forward in the 79th minute (!) At a corner. It doesn’t work because Union is strong at booth … oh, you know. The clock ticks down gandlessly and the team of coach Uwe Rösler just can’t get through the iron defense. In the 84th minute Kastenmeier is again in front of the opposing goal, again it is no use, a header from Ayhan flies past the goal. And with the (only half heartily defended) 3-0 by Suleiman Abdullahi it is over.
After the game: Unlimited joy in Bremen, grief at Fortuna Düsseldorf. Tears come to Rouwen Hennings, Florian Kastenmeier looks up into the Berlin sky. What can you say: miracles happen in the Bundesliga on the Weser. In the Weserstadion, Sargent hugs fellow rival Rashica (the player of the game) – the Bremen team look relieved but not euphoric. There is a reason for that. Because the club is not saved, but can fight for relegation in two games. Maybe against 1. FC Heidenheim. Maybe also against HSV.
The voices: Marco Bode (Chairman of the Supervisory Board Werder Bremen): “I was in Berlin the last half hour rather. We have to send a big thank you to Berlin, they did a great job. There is more than one thank you. It is still difficult for me to classify Now the door is open again, I am very optimistic that we can do it.
Davy Klaasen (Werder Bremen): “We also showed the passion that we have shown over the past few weeks. We quickly scored the goals and then made it beautiful. The coach told us that we were not yet dead, that there is still a chance and we should do our job. At half-time I saw 1-0 in Berlin, in the end 3-0. Everything went for us today. But it’s a semi-final, there is still two finals. Both teams start again from scratch. I haven’t played a derby (against Hamburger SV), maybe that would be a nice thing. “
