Preußen Münster 3-3 Rot-Weiß Erfurt
Preußenstadion
Att: 7,465 (Approx 600 away)
10/08/13
At the start of the day I couldn’t be bothered was somewhat reluctant to go to this game, but I was struck with a sense of now or never as to visiting the Preußenstadion. In previous years we had unsuccessfully attempted to make a game, but a combination of bad luck, all-ticket games and finding elsewhere to go meant that it was still high up the list of grounds we must visit. The main reason for my reluctance was that we were on a bit of a streak of games not being too bad, and with NAC playing in the evening I didn't have the interest to watch two awful games of football as well as sitting in the car for the long drive to a 3. Liga game, but there weren't any alternatives that meant we could get back to NAC in time. So with this in mind I gave in and joined Matt and Phil in the car as we hit the motorway.
Arriving at the ground we piled through the large, and only, turnstile block into the terraces. A small slope greeted us as we made our way to gain some impressions, via the Ultras stall for some stickers. On the drive down we had rather fittingly driven past Rot-Weiss Oberhausen as that is the ground the reminds me of most. Unlike with RWO's ground though, I liked this one Preußenstadion, when it was built, had a capacity of 40,000, however over the years it has been reduced due to stricter safety guidelines meaning that in its present form the capacity of the venue is a ‘mere’ 15,050. Another reason for this capacity reduction, rather interestingly, is due to trying to keep noise down. Because of this, if there is advanced permission, the capacity can be extended to 18,000. The majority of the ground is a terraced bowl. The main home terrace is behind the goal nearest the tennis courts. This swings round to the right, as you’re stood behind it, to meet two covered structures, which link together via a bridge. This side provides covered standing for 4,500. As the bowl sweeps around to the away corner, at the other end, it once again becomes uncovered. Half of this end is used as the away end, while the other half looks somewhat dilapidated. Also at this end is the scoreboard which, remarkably, was installed as recently as 2010. The main side is the most recent addition to the ground. The 3,000 capacity grandstand was opened in 2009 at a cost of some 4.8mil euros. This raised structure replaced the 1948 grandstand. I’m unsure as to the purpose of the roof as due to its height, and the back having no panels, I doubt it has too much protection from the elements.
Going into the game both teams were unbeaten, Münster had won one and drawn one, meanwhile Erfurt had won both their games. Despite this I had Münster down as favourites, if anything, because of their strong showing last season. The finished fourth, a single point behind the Promotion play-off spot. This in itself was taken up by Münsters arch rivals Osnabrück, The extent of this rivalry is there for all to see with several anti-VfL stickers. Münster had also just come of the back of a cup win against 2. Bundesliga side St-Pauli, they’d have wanted to continue their momentum. Despite this it would be the visitors who seized the initiative in the 10th minute., after a fairly impressive start. A ball from central midfield was played to Simon Brandsetter on the right wing, he lifted the ball over the last defender to put him through. Calmly he slotted the ball underneath the onrushing keeper to give the visitors the lead, he was swiftly given a yellow card for throwing his shirt in celebration. This proved to be a wakeup call for Münster as in the 12th minute a neat one-two on the edge of the area put Amaury Bischoff in sight of goal, and with no defenders around him placed the ball into the bottom corner. The home side would continue to press for the majority of the half, but the Erfurt defence limited their chances to a number of long range shots that were to be comfortably dealt with by the keeper.
Erfurt took the lead for the second time 7 minutes into the half, in comical fashion. The defender played the ball back to the keeper, who took a touch thinking he had more time than he really did. It was only when he looked up he sure the onrushing attacker sliding in. Still not looking up he went to pass the ball to another defender, but could only manage to clear the ball as far as Mijo Tunjic’s shin. The ball rebounded into the net, the score now 2-1. Shortly after Erfurt had another good chance, a long ball up field split the defense, the attacker rounded the keeper and played the ball to his strike partner. Presented with an open net he could only strike the ball over the cross bar. After several near misses, and a goal line clearance Erfurt were reduced to 10 men. Mijo Tunjic was the man sent off as he kicked a Münster player off the ball. Despite the man deficit Erfurt got their third of the match in the 80th minute, with Sebastian Stolze getting on the end of a through ball, he rounded the keeper and finished calmly. At this point the game looked beyond Münster. In the 86th minute a Münster corner was cleared only as far as Gaetano Manno on the edge of the area. In a single movement he chested the ball down and volleyed it into the top corner on the opposite side of the net. A fine strike. Münster continued to press and in the 90th minute the unthinkable happened as they were awarded a penalty for a trip on the edge of the area. Up stepped Amaury Bischoff to blast the ball in and send the home crowd into raptures. A remarkable finish to the game.
Despite the ground and the game I was disappointed with the atmosphere created. For the first 80 minutes it was very quiet. This could be, in some part, down to there being so many different groups singing that all the noise got lost. Not only did you have the away fans singing one chant, there was a group under the roof singing, and the two Ultras groups in the home end behind the goal. It all seemed very counter-productive. We’d also like to know if anyone has information regarding why there are two Ultras groups, and the history behind them. Despite this I was glad to have made the visit, and would recommend the ground to anyone stuck for games in the region, even if that’s unlikely!
If you want to see highlights of the game then click here
Arriving at the ground we piled through the large, and only, turnstile block into the terraces. A small slope greeted us as we made our way to gain some impressions, via the Ultras stall for some stickers. On the drive down we had rather fittingly driven past Rot-Weiss Oberhausen as that is the ground the reminds me of most. Unlike with RWO's ground though, I liked this one Preußenstadion, when it was built, had a capacity of 40,000, however over the years it has been reduced due to stricter safety guidelines meaning that in its present form the capacity of the venue is a ‘mere’ 15,050. Another reason for this capacity reduction, rather interestingly, is due to trying to keep noise down. Because of this, if there is advanced permission, the capacity can be extended to 18,000. The majority of the ground is a terraced bowl. The main home terrace is behind the goal nearest the tennis courts. This swings round to the right, as you’re stood behind it, to meet two covered structures, which link together via a bridge. This side provides covered standing for 4,500. As the bowl sweeps around to the away corner, at the other end, it once again becomes uncovered. Half of this end is used as the away end, while the other half looks somewhat dilapidated. Also at this end is the scoreboard which, remarkably, was installed as recently as 2010. The main side is the most recent addition to the ground. The 3,000 capacity grandstand was opened in 2009 at a cost of some 4.8mil euros. This raised structure replaced the 1948 grandstand. I’m unsure as to the purpose of the roof as due to its height, and the back having no panels, I doubt it has too much protection from the elements.
Going into the game both teams were unbeaten, Münster had won one and drawn one, meanwhile Erfurt had won both their games. Despite this I had Münster down as favourites, if anything, because of their strong showing last season. The finished fourth, a single point behind the Promotion play-off spot. This in itself was taken up by Münsters arch rivals Osnabrück, The extent of this rivalry is there for all to see with several anti-VfL stickers. Münster had also just come of the back of a cup win against 2. Bundesliga side St-Pauli, they’d have wanted to continue their momentum. Despite this it would be the visitors who seized the initiative in the 10th minute., after a fairly impressive start. A ball from central midfield was played to Simon Brandsetter on the right wing, he lifted the ball over the last defender to put him through. Calmly he slotted the ball underneath the onrushing keeper to give the visitors the lead, he was swiftly given a yellow card for throwing his shirt in celebration. This proved to be a wakeup call for Münster as in the 12th minute a neat one-two on the edge of the area put Amaury Bischoff in sight of goal, and with no defenders around him placed the ball into the bottom corner. The home side would continue to press for the majority of the half, but the Erfurt defence limited their chances to a number of long range shots that were to be comfortably dealt with by the keeper.
Erfurt took the lead for the second time 7 minutes into the half, in comical fashion. The defender played the ball back to the keeper, who took a touch thinking he had more time than he really did. It was only when he looked up he sure the onrushing attacker sliding in. Still not looking up he went to pass the ball to another defender, but could only manage to clear the ball as far as Mijo Tunjic’s shin. The ball rebounded into the net, the score now 2-1. Shortly after Erfurt had another good chance, a long ball up field split the defense, the attacker rounded the keeper and played the ball to his strike partner. Presented with an open net he could only strike the ball over the cross bar. After several near misses, and a goal line clearance Erfurt were reduced to 10 men. Mijo Tunjic was the man sent off as he kicked a Münster player off the ball. Despite the man deficit Erfurt got their third of the match in the 80th minute, with Sebastian Stolze getting on the end of a through ball, he rounded the keeper and finished calmly. At this point the game looked beyond Münster. In the 86th minute a Münster corner was cleared only as far as Gaetano Manno on the edge of the area. In a single movement he chested the ball down and volleyed it into the top corner on the opposite side of the net. A fine strike. Münster continued to press and in the 90th minute the unthinkable happened as they were awarded a penalty for a trip on the edge of the area. Up stepped Amaury Bischoff to blast the ball in and send the home crowd into raptures. A remarkable finish to the game.
Despite the ground and the game I was disappointed with the atmosphere created. For the first 80 minutes it was very quiet. This could be, in some part, down to there being so many different groups singing that all the noise got lost. Not only did you have the away fans singing one chant, there was a group under the roof singing, and the two Ultras groups in the home end behind the goal. It all seemed very counter-productive. We’d also like to know if anyone has information regarding why there are two Ultras groups, and the history behind them. Despite this I was glad to have made the visit, and would recommend the ground to anyone stuck for games in the region, even if that’s unlikely!
If you want to see highlights of the game then click here