The growing enthusiasm for Alemannia Aachen in the region can also be expressed in numbers. Almost exactly a year ago, the then regional league team played at the then Middle Rhine league team Germania Teveren very early in the season. 800 spectators came to the Heidestadion. On Friday evening, the two teams faced each other again, and this time more than 1,500 spectators wanted to see the promoted team. The growing class difference, however, was not reflected in the result. A year ago, Alemannia won 7-0, this time the new third division team defeated the new regional league team 3-1. The promoted heroes were visibly tired. “The boys ran over 100 kilometers this week, we overtrained them,” said Heiner Backhaus, not particularly surprised by the first competition.
Aachen’s coach had scheduled an internal 45-minute test match that morning. At the end of the strenuous first week of training, he nominated a new team for each half. He not only had to do without his captains Mika Hanraths (cold) and Bastian Müller (knee problems), but Anas Bakhat (rehab), Anton Heinz (Achilles tendon problems) and Uli Bapoh (rest) were also absent from the first competition of the season.
The game quickly took the expected course. The professionals kept the amateurs in their half for minutes. The hosts survived a quarter of an hour unscathed, not least because their goalkeeper Niklas Aretz had made a few good saves in front of a large crowd. He skilfully fished a free kick from Gianluca Gaudino, who had only signed his contract on Thursday, out of the corner (13th minute). Soon after, the fortress was overcome for the first time. Sascha Marquet scored the first goal of the season to make it 0-1 (15th minute). The striker is also a kind of new signing after missing the entire season.
Aachen pulled the game apart, crosses flew into the Teveren penalty area almost every second, but sometimes they lacked precision. The professionals were tired after several sessions. They nevertheless continued to extend their lead. First, Leandro Putaro deflected a cross from Sasa Strujic to make it 0-2 (28′). A few minutes later, the striker, who had transferred from Bielefeld, increased the lead from the corner of the penalty area to make it 0-3 (38′). That was the result of the first half. “It really looked like football in places,” was the satisfied interim conclusion of the Aachen coach.
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He replaced all the field players, and so Bjarne Pudel’s trial was over. The broad-shouldered central defender played for Borussia Dortmund II until a few weeks ago. Then the contract of the 23-year-old, who was trained at Arminia Bielefeld, ended. Pudel could get what is perhaps the last position in the squad; the squad planners are still on the lookout for a central defender because a return of Julius Schell is not foreseeable.
Marvin Ajani was also used in the second half. The former Aachen player is currently keeping fit at the Tivoli. Alemannia II made itself known immediately, with Aldin Dervisevic and Thilo Töpken hitting the post and crossbar several times (47th/55th). Töpken’s nerves were immediately frayed, and Teveren’s defender Kevin Werker saved on the line on his next big chance (58th). It was not the last missed opportunity, the shots whizzed past left and right, or some Germania leg got in the way. The Teveren team survived the constant fire.
Instead of more goals being conceded, the stadium announcer was even able to announce the goal, making it 1:3. Joel Klieber beat Aachen’s keeper Luca Schmidt, who had replaced Marcel Johnen in the meantime, with the first shot on goal (75th minute). “I’m really happy with the first game. We’ve only trained three times, that’s Alemannia’s workload in one day,” beamed Chris Reimer. Before the game, Teveren’s coach had demanded a better result than last year and a goal of his own in the dressing room. The team followed him.
The Aachen team were not particularly accurate in their debut. That could change with Kevin Goden. The centre-forward, who currently scores goals for Waldhof Mannheim, was a spectator at the Heidestadion. Backhaus had already described him as his “dream player” weeks ago. Now, after a long haggling between the clubs, it is becoming clear that the 25-year-old will soon begin his duties at the Tivoli. In the best case scenario, the attacker could travel to the training camp on Sunday. The team can now take a day to catch their breath after a strenuous week, then they will head east on Sunday. Getting used to much longer journeys or uncomfortable match venues is also part of the preparation.
2024-06-29 04:32:22
#Alemannia #wins #Germania #Teveren
