Club news English October 2009

With Der Club trying to re-establish themselves in the Bundesliga and find the sort of form to begin to move them up the league table, October proved to be something of a frustrating month. A controversial decision at the beginning of the month, and a last gasp equaliser right at the end of the month, have not made the job any easier for Michael Oenning and his young team. Jon Goulding reports on events at FCN during October.

Bitter defeat in Leverkusen

With October just three days old and the match against Leverkusen not yet two minutes old, talented Australian youngster Matthew Spiranovic, in at centre-half for his first start of the season, challenged Stefan Kiessling for the ball just outside the Nuremberg penalty area. It appeared the ball had been won fairly but as former Clubberer Kiessling fell to the floor, the referee awarded a free-kick. Kroos left Schaefer with no chance and Der Club were behind so early in the game.

Dario Vidosic tried to make amends for the injustice done to his compatriot, but he was unable to find the target with a header in the 14^th minute, and Maxim Choupo-Moting also went close.

But a 28^th minute Rolfes penalty and a Derdiyok goal in the 35^th extended the Leverksuen lead to 3-0.

It remained this way until the 68th minute when Kiessling rubbed further salt into the wounds of his old club when he headed a fourth goal. FCN were left ruing an early decision which threw them off their balance before they had even had chance to find their feet in the BayArena.

That was good!

An international break gave Der Club the chance to lick their wounds after the bitter defeat in Leverkusen and prepare for the visit of Hertha Berlin on Saturday 17^th October.

The performance was as bold as the dark rain clouds over the easyCredit Stadium as 1.FCN gave a committed performance. Right from the beginning one could see the determination to keep the visitors from Berlin under control.

In the early exchanges, Albert Bunjaku was causing the Hertha players all sorts of problems and it was no surprise when, in the 26^th minute, the Swiss striker converted a great ball from Mike Frantz. However, by this time FCN were already in the lead and Bunjaku was scoring the second. The first had come from his compatriot Danial Gygax, scoring from a tight angle in the 18^th minute and sending the Clubberer into early celebratory mood.

Although Hertha threatened occasionally, they were glad to see half-time without further conceding but after the break Bunjaku was soon threatening again. His second goal came in the 60^th minute when Eigler, his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area, laid the ball off to Bunjaku who struck the ball well (and forced Eigler to take cover) as he made it 3-0.

Bunjaku was replaced in the 81^st minute, collecting his well-deserved applause. He was replaced by Isaac Boakye, back in the team after a two month absence.

After the match, club coach Michael Oenning stated, "I am delighted that today we have shown a good performance. It was not a simple situation in which we stood. Today, we have shown that we can play good football."

The points stay in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena

The away game against Hoffenheim on Saturday 24^th October was never going to be easy, and despite the presence of 3,000 Clubberer, it was the home team who took all three points with a 3-0 victory.

Der Club had a great first 30 minutes. They not only held the hosts but also created chances in their first visit to the new stadium alongside the A6 Autobahn. Javier Pinola caused Hildebrand problems from distance and, in the 28^th minute, Bunjaku was fouled in the penalty area. Unfortunately for 1.FCN the referee awarded a corner rather than a penalty kick.

The hosts then capitalized on this misfortune in the space of just five minutes. Two shots brought them two goals (34^th and 38^th).

With this two goal cushion, Hoffenheim were now more comfortable and made it 3-0 in the 58^th minute, seeing out the match without reply from Nuremberg.

So nearly three points against Werder

What could so easily have been Halloween celebrations for FCN turned into Hell-oween as a two goal lead was surrendered against high-flying Werder Bremen.

In the third minute Christian Eigler had provided Nuremberg with the perfect start. A free-kick deep inside the Nuremberg half saw Andreas Wolf propel a long ball in the direction of Eigler and the giant Bremen central defensive pairing of Naldo and Mertesacker. Somehow Eigler squeezed between the two and, as the ball bounced at the edge of the Bremen penalty area he directed it past the helpless Wiese who had made an ill-timed dash from his goal.

Nuremberg continued to take the game to Bremen and created chances while Raphael Schaefer had to be on his toes to guard the home net.

The 1.FCN pressure paid dividends in the 33^rd minute. A corner from the left was well met by Bunjaku who made no mistake as he headed Der Club into a 2-0 lead.

The lead held until the 72^nd minute. As the game went on the Bremen pressure built slowly. Following Aaron Hunt’s goal making it 2-1 (72), the pressure intensified and Schaefer was called upon several times to make fine saves and keep Nuremberg in the game.

However, as the final seconds of three minutes of injury time ticked away, Hunt struck the Bremen second, breaking the hearts of the magnificent Schaefer, his hard-working team mates and the packed Nuremberg stadium.

Dominc Maroh told the prsss, "The point is for us almost like a defeat… A Bundesliga club has to win by with 2:0-lead."

Second team make good progress

Ahmet Kulabas continued to show good goalscoring form during October as he scored twice in each of the 1.FCN II victories against Eintracht Frankfurt II (3-1) and Bamberg (0-2). Draws against Bayern Alzenau and Reutlingen saw the second team maintain third place in Regionalliga Sued, five points behind leaders Aalen.