"Work trousers on!"

Created: 01/18/2022, 10:00 am

By: Wolfgang Krzizok

Solid arguments: The scuffle between the Pfaffenhofeners (yellow jerseys) and the Erdingers was quickly ended by the referees.

Overall it was a very fair game.

© Christian Riedel

Happy end to the Bayernliga qualifying round for the Erding Gladiators.

Erding – Although the initially highly rated team has to go into the relegation round, which begins next weekend, coach Thomas Vogl didn't look dissatisfied on Sunday evening after the 6-4 win against Pfaffenhofen.

"We haven't lost a game after 60 minutes since the defeat on December 23 in Peißenberg," announced Erding's gang boss, a little proud. After all, that was followed by six games in which the Gladiators scored 13 points. And that with a permanently weakened troop. "The front row wins us every game," he stated, but defended his other rows: "Of course I can't ask that from a junior row or from a row where regular defenders have to play strikers."

Against Pfaffenhofen he was annoyed by the second third, which was lost 4-1. "I actually saw us very well there," said Vogl. "We were alone in front of the goal three, four, five times - we missed chances in a catastrophic way." Then serious mistakes were made on the defensive, "and then you just lose a third". Here he would have expected his first line of attack "to make things clear". This was then achieved with a 3-0 in the final third, not least because the Eishogs conceded too many penalties. In the second break, he made an "announcement" to his team, emphasized the Erdinger coach. "The boys obviously took that to heart, just like in Dorfen."

The coach reported that he was satisfied with the 4:3 performance after extra time in Ulm on Friday. Did his team make up for a 0:2 and a 2:3 deficit to then win in overtime. However, Vogl was annoyed by the action of an Ulm player who, shortly before the end of regular time, punched Roni Rukajärvi – who had scored the 100th goal of the season for the Gladiators in the game – during a scuffle. "Two seconds before the end - that was cheeky in a game that was about nothing," complained Erding's gang leader. Result: The Finnish defender, who was adorned with a hearty “violet”, had to sit out on Sunday after warming up with severe neck pain.

However, Rukajärvi should definitely be back on Friday when the promotion round begins.

And some other battered players who "were not used as a precaution" are said to be ready again.

The first opponent is expected to be in Schweinfurt in their own hall, on Sunday they will go to Geretsried.

It is clear to Vogl that the relegation round will not be a sure-fire success.

"Now it's getting hard, now we're going to work," he announced and added with a smile: "Well, work trousers on!"