Football – Lok Leipzig and Havelse struggle with the unspeakable relegation

Rainy weather also determined all Wednesday in Saxony. The supporters of the regional league 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig still moved to Probstheida in masses in mass in the time-honored Morode Bruno-Plache-Stadion. The home area at the first leg of the relegation for promotion to the 3rd division was sold out. The guest fans were that it was “only” 10 080 visitors. Only around 200 supporters of TSV Havelse wanted to be there at the first duel of the champions of the regional northeast and north.

However, one minute before the end of the regular playing time, however, the climb of the upright from the district of the city of Garbsen near Hanover. After the visionary goal of goalkeeper Marko Ilic, who scored his 20th goal this season in his 30th competitive game, caused ecstasy, a short one. Because the Leipzig fans, whose club last played football in the second division season in 1997/98 under the name of the predecessor VfB Leipzig, were brought out of their shock promptly. 120 seconds after the guests’ lead goal, substitute Dorian Cevis scored 1-1 for the acclaimed and performance -friendly. After the final whistle, Havelse could still feel a moral winner. The majority of the Leipzig fans looked more thoughtful in terms of the second leg next Sunday.

The stadium spokesman also felt that. “In the end everything will be fine. And if it is not good, it’s not the end yet, ”he called to the locomotive supporter. Goal scorer Cevis pressed a bit more optimistic. “If we play like in the first leg, we will definitely drive home with a win on Sunday,” the Croatian let the promotion dream raise.

In the Bruno Plachen Stadium, the locomotive fans also reminded of the absurdity of the promotion game. “Masters have to climb” was on a large banner. The unspeakable relegation will lead to the locomotive or Havelse on Sunday. “You shouldn’t forget that locomotive has exactly the same quality as we do. They deserved to be able to rise directly. In the end, we now have to submit to the regulations and duel here, «said Havelse coach Samir Ferchichi. “I think both deserve to celebrate at the weekend. In the end it can only one. “

The longing for higher-class football is huge among locomotive fans. The five-time GDR Cup winner and European Cup finalist from 1987, who had to start a restart in the eleventh league in 2004 after the bankruptcy of VfB Leipzig, is again on an important threshold. In 2020 the championship title in the Regionalliga Northeast was recently won – in the relegation Lok failed because of the then existing away gate rule after a 2: 2 and a 1-1 on SC Verl. Unfortunately, for security reasons, the 3500 spectators who are officially permitted must not even come in the second leg in the much too small Wilhelm Langrehr Stadium.

Lok was only granted 600 tickets. That hurts. The Leipziger could certainly have filled the stadium alone. The pre -sale of the guest tickets on Wednesday only lasted a few seconds. “I think 6,000 locomotives would have liked to come. So it is a shame for the 5500 who cannot be there. But I also assume that our fans will be very, very loud, «said Leipzig’s sports director Toni Wachsmuth.

Neither Wachsmuth nor the players can bring their women and families to the showdown. In the event of a return to Leipzig in the Bruno-Plachen-Stadion, the celebration is to be celebrated in the event of a return. From next week, the green will be removed for a lawn heating and partially auctioned in favor of the association. The installation of the lawn heating is a edition of the DFB for third division football and will upgrade the aging stadium. The association also works with high pressure to ensure that the license for higher -class sports also exists with the wooden grandstand built in 1932.