The Cottbus team led by Eric Hottmann (centre) were only rarely able to assert themselves decisively against Unterhaching.
Photo: imago/Steffen Beyer
The stadium of friendship was packed in the home areas long before kick-off. 17,580 visitors wanted to see the first leg for promotion to the 3rd division between Energie Cottbus and the Unterhaching game association. Singer and energy fan Alexander Knappe belted out his energy anthem “We’ll be back tomorrow” live at every home game into the sultry evening sky this time. The choreography of the Cottbus fans under the motto “One goal: rise” extended over several grandstands.
With all this, many a supporter may have remembered the time in Cottbus in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga between 1997 and 2014. With the former goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel, a representative of this wedding also belonged to the television experts on Wednesday evening. Unterhaching also played in league one between 1999 and 2001. But the bitter present means for both: regional league.
After the 2-1 win in Cottbus, Bayern now have the better chance of escaping fourth-tier status before the second leg on Sunday. “I would have liked a different result. They were very stupid goals conceded. There were a lot of interruptions in the second half. They hindered the flow of the game,” said energy coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz. »Our task is clear, we are 1:2 behind. We will come back on Sunday and we will play in the 3rd division. I am firmly convinced of that.«
Northeast champions Cottbus let themselves be taken by surprise early on. Niclas Anspach gave Hachinger the lead in the sixth minute. When Jonas Hildebrandt was able to equalize 1:1 with a hand penalty in the first quarter of an hour, the stadium exploded. But Bayern champion Unterhaching stayed calm and took the lead again eight minutes before the break thanks to former Cottbus player Mathias Fetsch.
It remained at 1:2 in the second round, which had to be interrupted again and again by free-kick whistles and injury breaks. Unterhaching felt even closer to the third goal than the physically fitter-looking Cottbus team. ‘I’m relatively happy. However, there were a few points that we need to work through. Also that my boys have cramps from minute 30, “said Haching’s coach Sandro Wagner. “There were six or seven players. Something was wrong with the preparation.«
The hot-blooded Cottbus audience couldn’t celebrate anymore despite the seven-minute added time. However, the heated atmosphere also made the guests happy, who are usually not used to such things. They were supported by only 200 supporters who traveled with them. Head coach Wagner even took off his hat as he left the field to the accompaniment of whistles. »I took my hat off to the Cottbus fans, that was fantastic. The backdrop was sensational,” said Wagner. Surprisingly, he also overlooked cup throws in the direction of his players, which fortunately did not cause any physical damage. Financially yes. Energie will also have to pay fines for the pyrotechnics burned off by the home fans several times in the second half.
Both teams and the club representatives met each other with respect. Verbal pinpricks were also used here and there. Cottbus was annoyed that Unterhaching had only recently been officially named as a relegation participant in the regional league of Bavaria by the state association. Again and again there were reports of financial problems of the club. In the meantime, therefore, runner-up Würzburger Kickers seemed to be able to move up.
But before the game in Cottbus, Haching was even able to attend a training camp and fly there. That drove Energy President Sebastian Lemke upset. “If you have license problems and then show up here with the charter plane, before you’re in the training camp, then that raises questions,” said Lemke. “I’ll apply to do an internship in Unterhaching. Maybe I can still learn something commercial.«
Cottbus last played in the 3rd division in the 2018/2019 season. A fourth year in the Regionalliga Nordost would put the current season, which has so far brought with it the championship and the cup victory in Brandenburg, in a bad light. The traffic jam in East football would also continue. Last year, the BFC Dynamo failed in the relegation at the northern champions VfB Oldenburg. In 2024, the East champion can once again rise directly. If Cottbus stayed put, the slashing and stabbing in the Northeast Regional League would be even greater. But energy is far from giving up. After the final whistle, the fans demanded: “Away win, away win.”
The Autobahn and the trains from Cottbus to Munich will be packed with energy fans on Sunday. They carry hope to Unterhaching. “In the last few days I’ve seen more people with an East German dialect at our office than I’ve ever seen in Munich or Unterhaching,” reported Haching’s coach Wagner. »There will not only be 2500 Cottbus fans in the second leg. We’ll probably have two away games.”
