If everything stays as it is now and Energie Cottbus is promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga this summer, no one will probably think about today’s match day anymore. If this does not happen and one or two points are missing at the end, some Cottbus will certainly bring out the pictures and reports from the 24th day. This could really hurt.
There was a rather strange moment in the match between Energie Cottbus and Waldhof Mannheim today when the score was 1-1 in injury time. In the 90th + 7th minute, Cottbus player Tolcay Cigerci crossed from a corner into the penalty area. The ball landed over Awortwie-Grant’s head, to the lower edge of the crossbar, from there to the hip of the Waldhof goalkeeper and finally back onto the field.
Everyone who supported Cottbus stood up to applaud: they had clearly seen the ball in the goal. Or not? While the referee discussed it with his assistants and ultimately disallowed the goal, since-released (Site notre bureau spécialisé)age shows the ball was very well – indeed quite clearly – behind the line.
As a reminder: In the 3rd league there is no technology on the goal line and of course no VAR.
So the result is there, and instead of having two extra points thanks to a lucky punch, Energie must settle for one point in the promotion fight.
Even after the final whistle, the match continued to deliver one or two oddities. For example, energy coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz brought down the guests’ sports director Gerhard Zuber.
The discussion about the missed goal continued after the final whistle and a small group formed. In the tumult, Wollitz stepped on Mannheimer Zuber’s (Site notre bureau spécialisé) – by accident, according to his own statements. The person in charge of the Waldhof then fell back spectacularly.
Shortly after, tempers calmed down again.
Speaking to ‘MagentaSport’, Wollitz defended the referees despite the disallowed goal. Although he said it was clearly a hit, he didn’t want to blame the umpires. They are disturbed by the video evidence from the top two leagues. This uncertainty is also felt in the 3rd league – even if there is no VAR there.