Kaufering - With an eight hour bus ride in their legs, the Red Hocks Kaufering started the Bundesliga match at the Berlin Rockets on Sunday.
Accordingly, it took a long time for the Reds to get going.
In the final third they made up a two-goal deficit and made it into extra time, where it remained 4: 4 despite the best chances.
At first, the Red Hocks seemed to get into the game well and had more possession. Berlin's newcomer Janne Makkonen, who had been involved in 15 of 19 Berlin goals to date, showed his keen eye for goals early on and dusted off the long post to score the opening goal (7th). After that, the almost 100 spectators enjoyed a balanced game, in which the Kaufringer initially lacked the power to penetrate the front, as well as access to the nimble Berlin wingers at the back. But goalkeeper David Winzinger parried several times that day and also helped the Red Hocks to go into the third break with a draw: In the 20th minute, Tobias Hutter carried the ball after a short pass behind the goal, curved around the post and carried out the "pawn trick". With this prank and a 1:1 went into the first third break.
Kaufering started the second section with a more aggressive pressing, and that seemed to bear fruit straight away. In the 26th minute, Hutter put a nice cross pass through the middle to Martin Rieß, who netted with a direct finish to 2-1 for the Red Hocks. But this joy did not last long: Berlin found its way around the new tactical guidelines better and overplayed the Kauferinger defense after a pressure situation. Again it was striker Makkonen who cheekily put the ball on the shovel and converted it to 2-2 with a "Zorrotrick".
The referees, who followed a strict line in terms of body play, then sent Martin Rieß off the field. And again it was Makkonen who put the Rockets in the lead (29th). Now Berlin finally had the upper hand, while the Red Hocks lost the ball too easily and kept running into the open knife. Berlin closed a 3-on-1 counterattack to make it 2: 4. The goalscorer? A fourth time the Finn Makkonen.
In the third break, Marco Tobisch and Lukas Wexenberger, who did not play due to injury and were coaches in Berlin, ordered a return to the old game system. The Reds also acted offensively in the final section with more playfulness and so there was an early chance to make the game closer again: In the power play, captain Ricardo Wipfler replaced Martin Riess, who refueled well and shortened to 3: 4. With a lot of running effort, the Red Hocks put their opponent under pressure early on and so there were several good opportunities. But like Winzinger before, Berlin goalkeeper Jonas Bestgen now also stood out. In the 56th minute he was powerless: In a moment of inattention, Daniel Falkenberger captured the ball and ran out of his pocket towards the goal: 4: 4!
Kaufering continued to run and pushed for victory after 60 minutes.
But it shouldn't be enough for the regular season.
In extra time, the Red Hocks continued to shoot, but had bad luck several times: Tizian Heinzelmann only hit the inside post, Martin Riess the crossbar.
So it remained exciting and a game well worth seeing until the end - and after 70 minutes of playing time a 4-4 draw.
With this point, the Red Hocks leave the last place in the table and overtake the DHfK Leipzig and TV Schriesheim.
The 1st Bundesliga will pause next weekend before the Red Hocks receive ETV Hamburg from 6 p.m. on the following Saturday, October 23rd.