02.04.2009
News from Der Club over the past month
Jon Goulding reports on a month in which 1. FCN kept themselves in contention at the top of 2. Bundesliga with a draw and two fine victories. And as the first team makes a push for the coveted promotion places, the second eleven move to the top of Regionalliga Süd as the season heads towards an exciting climax for all Cluberer.
Jon Goulding brings you the news from 1. FCN in his monthly round-up.
Phantom evening: Club triumphs with 4:0 victory!
25,277 fans were in joyous mood after witnessing a Marek Mintal hatrick in the home game against Ahlen on the evening of Friday, 13th March.
In a one-sided encounter, it was Isaac Boakye who got the scoring underway. Excellent work by Christian Eigler on the left saw a telling cross into the box, which was met with equal aplomb by the head of his strike partner as he dived forward to propel the ball into the net.
In the 39th minute, it was the turn of Daniel Gygax to supply a cross from the left and his centre was converted by Marek Mintal to make it 2-0.
Other chances had presented themselves to Mintal, Boakye and Eigler during the first half but the former Nürnberg keeper Dirk Langer kept them at bay. And there was further misfortune for 1. FCN as Mike Frantz left the pitch with a leg injury.
The second half was also controlled by Der Club and it was no surprise that the lead was doubled before the end of the game. Both goals came from ‘Phantom’ Marek Mintal. The Slovak made it 3-0 in the 54th minute and completed his hatrick in the 89th.
After the game the hero of the evening was modest about his achievement. “There are three important points,” he told the press conference. “From Freiburg [the next game] we want to bring three points. 30 points are still to be awarded. I always say everything is possible in football, as in life. Today we have shown what we want to show.”
Mintal’s final point was also made by the coach. “The players today have shown what they are capable of… the team has sent a clear signal to the rest of the league,” added Michael Oenning.
A crazy draw
What a crazy evening it was in Duisburg on Monday 9th March for Der Club. 1-0 behind, 1-1, a 2-1 lead then 2-2 right at the death.
After an uneventful first half in which both teams managed to neutralize each other, the second half was far more stimulating. However, it took until the 71st minute for the real excitement to begin.
When Makiadi gave the home team the lead, the Cluberer must have feared the worst but just four minutes later, in the 75th minute, 1. FCN were awarded an indirect free-kick on the edge of the six yard box. With the Duisburg players forming a solid wall on the goal line, the ball was worked to Isaac Boakye and his well struck shot found a way through the massed defensive ranks and into the net.
As the minutes ticked away, Michael Oenning tried to force a result, introducing Albert Bunjaku in the 84th minute. When he found space running into the left side of the penalty area in the 89th minute, the newcomer unleashed a wonderful shot and Nürnberg celebrated a goal which gave them a fantastic 2-1 lead.
Unfortunately the celebration was short-lived. Deep into the last of the three minutes additional time allowed after the conclusion of the 90, Duisburg were awarded a free kick in midfield. The long ball found the head of Kouemaha. He directed the ball past the despairing Raphael Schäfer and broke Nürnberg hearts as moments later the referee signalled the end of the match.
Coach Oenning was happy with a point from the game but obviously disappointed that all three had been denied in the closing seconds. His right-hand man Peter Neururer was philosophical believing that at the end of the season the point gained in Duisburg could be worth its weight in gold.
Phantom evening: Club triumphs with 4:0 victory!
25,277 fans were in joyous mood after witnessing a Marek Mintal hatrick in the home game against Ahlen on the evening of Friday, 13th March.
In a one-sided encounter, it was Isaac Boakye who got the scoring underway. Excellent work by Christian Eigler on the left saw a telling cross into the box, which was met with equal aplomb by the head of his strike partner as he dived forward to propel the ball into the net.
In the 39th minute, it was the turn of Daniel Gygax to supply a cross from the left and his centre was converted by Marek Mintal to make it 2-0.
Other chances had presented themselves to Mintal, Boakye and Eigler during the first half but the former Nürnberg ‘keeper Dirk Langer kept them at bay. And there was further misfortune for 1.FCN as Mike Frantz left the pitch with a leg injury.
The second half was also controlled by Der Club and it was no surprise that the lead was doubled before the end of the game. Both goals came from ‘Phantom’ Marek Mintal. The Slovak made it 3-0 in the 54th minute and completed his hatrick in the 89th.
After the game the hero of the evening was modest about his achievement. “There are three important points,” he told the press conference. “From Freiburg [the next game] we want to bring three points. 30 points are still to be awarded. I always say everything is possible in football, as in life. Today we have shown what we want to show.”
Mintal’s final point was also made by the coach. “The players today have shown what they are capable of… the team has sent a clear signal to the rest of the league,” added Michael Oenning.
Club gets three points at league leader
Dario Vidosic scored a super-sub goal in Freiburg as Der Club clearly re-instated themselves as serious contenders for promotion.
From the outset 1. FCN, playing in their white away kits, made it clear that they were in town for the three points. Both Christian Eigler and Isaac Boakye went close in the opening exchanges and a reasonably balanced game ensued with both teams threatening from time-to-time.
Over 1,200 Clubberer had made the four hour journey on the Monday evening and in the 82nd minute they witnessed a final throw of the dice from Oenning who sent on Dario Vidosic. Just a few moments later, on his return to first team action following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Vidosic received the ball just outside the area. With three defenders in close attendance he still managed to get a clean shot on goal and his ecstasy was clear for all to see as the ball hit the net.
“A feeling of madness,” was the scorer’s description of his goal. His coach talked of a game played at the highest level and was clearly pleased that his team had gained an important victory when there was so much to lose had they not done so.
1. FCN finished the month in sixth place in 2. Bundesliga, eight points behind leaders Freiburg and four behind third placed Mainz, giving themselves plenty to play for in the final two months of the season.
Manuel Stiefler
Second team have fine month
1. FCN II moved once again to the top of the Regionalliga Süd with four wins and a draw during March.
A 4-2 victory over SV Wehen Wiesbaden II, a draw against Unterhaching II and then three straight wins over Karlsruhe, Aschaffenburg and Pfullendorf have seen them edge just ahead of their rivals. Notable among the goals in this run have been Manuel Stiefler (4), Ahmet Kulabas (3) and Markus Fuchs (2).
www.fcn.de/en/club-news/march-2009/