At first glance, everything looked like a relaxed celebration following the Frankfurt Galaxy’s last home game of the season. A few young people played quarterback and pass receiver, one taking turns throwing the ball to the other. In the background, the Frankfurt football players did a lap of honor. Galaxy won the play-off game against Berlin Thunder 20-3 and thus reached the semi-finals of the European League of Football (ELF).
But there was no celebration. The scoreboard showed 5:30 minutes left to play. There were two ambulances in the middle distance. A Thunder player and a staff member required emergency medical treatment. The player collapsed under the heat, and the supervisor was hit so badly and badly in a collision on the sideline that her neck had to be stabilized. Berlin football players made a makeshift effort to shield those in need from view with meter-long block flags from Galaxy fans.
Minutes earlier, the coaches of the two teams, the league commissioner Patrick Esume and the co-owner of the Thunder, Björn Werner, had decided on the field that no more football would be played that day. It didn’t make any sense. Esume said over the stadium loudspeakers: “There are more important things than sport.” He received loud applause.
First aid worked well
The good news is that “the first aid worked really well,” said Thunder coach Johnny Schmuck in the press conference and thanked the Frankfurt team doctors for their quick response. Both the injured team supervisor and the collapsed player can be contacted.
Talking about the sporting events afterwards was strange. Nevertheless, football also offered topics. The three and two-thirds quarters played had once again proven what the Galaxy is made of. “We have built a defense that has to dominate,” said coach Thomas Kösling. In this way, like against the Thunder, they can keep their backs free for a long time. At some point the offensive will score points, he relies on that, says Kösling.
Berlin’s defense is also impressive, which made the game a tough struggle for a long time. “Their strength is our Achilles heel,” said Kösling, referring to the Frankfurt offensive line, which was supposed to protect quarterback Jakeb Sullivan from the attack-like pressure from Berlin, but which has become a weak point after Yannic Kiehl was lost at the start of the season.
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If Galaxy plays in the ELF semi-finals next weekend, the defense should at best perform like it did against Berlin, but the offense should play like it did against Rhein Fire two weeks ago, when they scored 38 points. Once both come together at the highest level, even Fire should be beatable. So far, however, Galaxy has failed to prove that they can deliver an outstanding performance both offensively and defensively.
