WSV - LR Ahlen 2:2

Wuppertal:
Heinen - Mademann - Menzel, Becker - Steup (76. N'Gombo), Hartwig, Meinke (72. Kaul), Hajradinovic (62. Goulet), Panait - Müller, N'Diaye
Coach: Jerat

Ahlen:
Eisenmenger - Peters - Gredig, Schwanke - Zimmermann, Karp, Turgut (75. Schlösser), Schmitz (60. Taverna), Daschner - Lünsmann (62. Ekmesic), Deffke
Coach: Sandhowe

Scoring: 1:0 Müller (20., foul penalty), 1:1 Karp (40.), 1:2 Ekmesic (87.), 2:2 Müller (90. Hand penalty)

Referee: Haupt (Mainz)
Attendance: 1.700
Yellow cards: Becker, Panait, Meinke - Zimmermann, Deffke
Yellow/red: Zimmermann (90.)

Overall, not a bad result, since the way the goals fell, it could have been a loss. Ahlen is a decent team, so WSV is probably somewhat satisfied with a point. (As you might recall, WSV went home 0:2 losers in the first leg at Ahlen, so this result is a lot better!). Nevertheless, you need to defeat opponents like this if you want to be the champs. You can't rely on penalties to pull your chesnuts out of the fire. But given the problems we've had all year scoring goals, we'll take them.
Müller has good nerves

The "Bergisch Lions" were quite a bit more dangerous than in 1996. They showed their claws, and finally were able to score a couple of goals. Veteran Rudi Müller scored off a couple of penalty kicks. ( So it wasn't entirely bared claws and fangs - ed.). The first was after a foul from Gredig against N'Diaye, who had a very strong match. The 2nd, just in a nick of time, was in the last minute. Zimmermann handled the ball totally unnecessarily in the penalty box. This enabled WSV to salvage a point. ( Not only did Zimmermann give WSV the point, but he also got his ass tossed by complaining against the call. - ed. )

Based on kicker-sportmagazin article of 24 Feb 97