The Rüsselsheim team celebrate promotion to the district league with a clear win against KSG, while Brandauer have to move up to the A-League.
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Exhilaration: Teammates celebrate Nabil Baadidi (above) after his goal for Hillal Rüsselsheim in the decisive relegation game against KSG Brandau. With a 6-0 win, the Rüsselsheimers were promoted to the district league.
(Photo: Marc Schüler)
RÜSSELSHEIM – FC Hillal Rüsselsheim has made it: After the 6:0 (4:0) in the decisive relegation game against KSG Brandau, the club is promoted to the district football league and is celebrating the biggest success in the club’s history. The Brandauer, on the other hand, have to go down to the A-League Darmstadt.
“We made history” was written on the T-shirts with which Hillal celebrated the ascent. When the final whistle sounded, the fans poured onto the pitch and cheered for the team. On the other side were the disappointed Brandauer, who after the 2-0 win against Türk Gücü Darmstadt a draw would have been enough to stay up in the league – Hillal had played 3:3 against Darmstadt. “The relegation was symptomatic of our season,” said KSG coach Roman Grünewald: “Our performance was inconsistent in the first half of the season, but we didn’t give up a single game. Unfortunately for today. After two penalties and two set-piece goals, it was difficult to get back into the game.” Captain Tim Krichbaum agreed: “It’s very difficult to chase after a 0:4. Unfortunately, we got ourselves into this situation by not going into the duels properly and giving our opponents too much space.” The Brandau team then stood and sat on the pitch with their heads hanging – relegation is a reality.
On the other hand, the joy of the people from Rüsselsheim after the outstanding victory was boundless. With the motivation of an all-or-nothing game, the hosts performed in front of around 600 spectators and put pressure on them right from the start. Brandau was only able to stop a quick advance from Bilal Benali with a foul, Mohamed Jemi converted the penalty kick to make it 1-0 (15th). After that it went in quick succession. A corner kick from player-coach Said Belhadj landed on the head of Abdelmotalb Sadiki, who made it 2-0. 180 seconds later, Ayoub Kadi made it 3-0 after another corner. Another counterattack in the 35th minute led to a foul on Benali – Jemi was there again and scored again: 4:0.
Hillal was the better team in the second round as well. The guests couldn’t get through, the Rüsselsheim defense was too good. Abdelmalek Benali made it 5-0 with a remarkable lob over KSG goalkeeper Mirco Seibel who ran out. In the 78th minute, Nabil Baadidi got the ball after a shot that was saved too short and scored to make it 6-0.
“Our plan was to keep the ball within our own ranks, switch quickly and show good standards. We were waiting for an early goal and hoped it would throw Brandau off course. I think that worked out,” said Hillal player-coach Said Belhadj, for whom the result was unexpected. “In the coming year we have to show a bit faster and harder football, then we can survive in the district league.”
Captain Bilal Benali was happy about the success. “It’s an indescribable feeling to have captained this team onto the field and made history for Hillal,” he said. Benali praised the great team performance, every player gave their all. “It’s an indescribable feeling. Our victory was never in jeopardy and we deserved promotion,” said double goalscorer Mohamed Jemi.
Hillal Rüsselsheim: N. El Ghazouani – Jemi, Atabraham (72. A. Benali), R. El Ghazouani, Hauas, Kadi, Simouh, Sadiki (63. Baadidi), B. Benali, Yildrim, Belhadj (46. Fernandes)
KSG Brandau: Seibel – J. Ritzert, von Oesen, S. Ritzert, Braun, Manns (25th Knaup), Krichbaum, Piergallini (57th Hofmann), Feick (37th Heinz), Sanchez, Lazaro
Goals: 1: 0 Jemi (15./penalty), 2: 0 Sadiki (19.), 3: 0 Kadi (22.), 4: 0 Jemi (36./penalty), 5: 0 A. Benali (74 .), 6: 0 Baadidi (80th). Referee: Ross (Lengfeld). Spectators: 600.
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