WSV - Rot-Weiss Essen 1:0 (0:0)

Round 22, 15 Feb 1998 (game annulled)

Wuppertal:
Ogrinc - Backhaus - Wüster, Menzel - Steup, Glavas, Mademann, Kaul (65. Broos), Lehnhart - Meinke, Raduta (60. Selela, 85. Goulet)
Coach: Gores

Essen:
Krause - Röder (74. Ayisi) - Margref, Pickenäcker - Giruc, Helmig, Karasalihovic (62. Leib), Kindgen (60. Dogru), Milne - Cyron, Klein

Scoring: 1:0 Meinke (15.)

Attendance: 7.000
Referee:
Yellow cards:

WSV MOTM: Gerrit Meinke

Decent crowd witnesses good effort

A season high 7,000 fans (photo, 15K) came to the Zoo - Stadion to watch WSV upend archrivals RotWeiss Essen 1-0. Given all the trouble regarding the bankruptcy and the last minute salvation, you have to consider this a good result. (Later in the week, WSV announced that over 9,500 tickets had actually been sold for the match, many bought by businesses during the support campaign.) Among other things, it should finally remove any thought of WSV slipping into the relegation zone. For RWE however, things remain quite grim. And even though RWE is an "enemy" of WSV, seeing them take the drop is probably something the Regionalliga West could do without. RWE apparently can't afford red and white anymore, so they showed up in traditional green white (Photo, 15K)

WSV pretty much controlled the game from the start. RWE was pressured back into the defensive zone. (Photo, 15K) Despite the fact that WSV is hurting for true forwards, it was a powerful header by Gerrit Meinke, the only forward left, that brought WSV the early lead. The remainder of the first half was distinguished by scrappy play on both sides.

In the 2nd half, Essen had a bit jmore of the play, although WSV's counterattacks were very dangerous. In fact, most observors, including the Essen fans, felt that Wuppertal could have easily scored 2-3 more goals. In the 60th minute, coach Gores sent in the new signing, South African Benson Selela. Maybe he was out of shape, or just overly nervous, but his debut was hardly stellar. As a result, he suffered the indignity of being subbed out with only 5 minutes left, as Brent Goulet came on, barely recovered from his foot injury.

Despite the fact that one would have liked to see more, the 3 pts and the decent crowd should make everybody happy.