A tremendous victory for WSV against a bitter rival, and one that takes WSV to the top of the table! Certainly one of the most important matches in the Zoo in several years, and the fans responded. Official ticket sales were just under 16,000, but most account indicate that with free passes and illegal entries, almost 20,000 jammed into the Zoo. And they would not go home disappointed, as WSV kicked it up notch in the 2nd half to take the deserved win.

Things started out tentatively, as both teams were a bit cautious. Perhaps both teams were a bit nervous by the loud crowd, including some 3,000 visiting Esseners. The first real excitement came in the 24th minute, when Mike Terranova put in a cross and Tavarez tried a backheel, which missed the goal by inches. In general, WSV controlled the game in midfield, but was unable to create much. Essen only had a couple of shots to even bother keeper Maly. Despite the rather ho-hum game, the teams went into the locker room with the loud cheers of support from the fans.

The 2nd half was different, as WSV came out forceful to wrest the game from the visitors. On a corner kick, Essen's Wedau couldn't clear the ball far enough on a header. The ball came to Markus Bayertz at the top of the penalty box, and he blasted an unstoppable shot into the net. 1-0 for WSV!, and the crowd went nuts.

From this point on, WSV dominated the game, with Essen barely able to cross midfield. Fierce WSv attacks rained down on the Essen goal, and keeper Sascha Kirchstein was forced to make several excellent saves. in the 69th minute, Narewsky came in alone, but Kirchstein managed to block his point blank shot. Ebersbach had a beautiful diving header that barely missed. The pressure seemed unbearable, but somehow Essen withheld. Some of the WSV fans were getting nervous, as perhaps the memory of Braunschweig escaping with an undeserved point was in the back off their mind. But then the game was decided once and for all by the outstanding player on the pitch. Jean-Louis Tavarez got a breakway and motored in alone against Kirchstein. Just about the top of the penalty box, he faked the onrushing keeper out of his jockstrap and walked in alone to the empty net. After what seemed like hours, he flipped the ball into the empty net, and the stadium exploded. After the match, the crowd continued jumping up and down, and the WSV players saluted the fans.

In post game interviews, new RWE coach Jurgen Gelsdorf admitted that his club got their ass kicked, and could have lost by a worse margin. WSV coach Georg Kress could only add that he agreed. His most important task was that he ran after Tavrez on the decisive goal, so the player would over-celebrate and get another card and get banned.