14.10.2022 Kreisliga A St.2 KF FZ | FC Kickers Pufendorfer Berlin : Siemensstadt

It was an unexpectedly balmy October evening as FC Kickers Pufendorfer welcomed Siemensstadt to the Lobeck Arena. Though the predicted thunderstorms had stayed away, there was no denying the electricity in the air – matches between these two old rivals have produced some classic encounters over the years and the fans packed into the Kreuzberg venue expected no different. The fact that the match was under Friday night floodlights, with the Fernsehturm sparkling in the background added to the atmospheric build up.

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Those watching in the stadium and at home were treated to yet another classic to add to the list. Although the opening exchanges were characterised by cagey, possession-based build up from both sides, the game came to life after 10 minutes and developed into an enthralling end-to-end encounter. It was Siemensstadt who began to assert control first when a tactical reshuffle saw them launching more attacks from deep, breaking down the flanks with pace. Sharp defensive blocks and fine goalkeeping from Pufendorfer kept the scores level for a time but the away side made the breakthrough after 23 minutes. After winning possession in central midfield, a lightning fast move down the left channel developed with the resulting low, driven cross walloped home gleefully by Martin Wiens at the near post to make it 1-0 to the team in blue.

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Siemensstadt had their tails up now and sought to take advantage of their ascendancy, pushing hard for a second goal. The closest they came was in the 31st minute when another raid down the wing brought a corner kick from the right hand side. The ball was whipped in to the crowded penalty box and met with a thumping point-blank header that was destined for the top corner and glory. Pufendorfer goalkeeper Tolga Soykan somehow denied the visitors however, leaping to his left spectacularly to flip the ball over the crossbar. He resembled some kind of cartwheeling octopus-cat-like creature that would look good in a tuxedo and his save drew a roar of approval from the crowd. It seemed to inspire the home side too.

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From that moment until the end of the first half, Pufendorfer began to gain control of the midfield battle and created a series of ever more threatening opportunities. Excellent link-up play between Julian Martinez and Johannes Hartl opened up the Siemensstadt defence on a number of occasions and it was this combination that brought the Pufendorfer equaliser just before half-time. Some patient build-up play down the left channel was worked inside to Martinez whose clever dinked through ball allowed Hartl to turn on a euro coin and batter the ball home right-footed from just inside the box. The home crowd erupted as the deserved equaliser slapped into the net and they kept that raucous atmosphere buzzing as the teams trotted down the tunnel at half time.

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The second half proved to be as engrossing as the first, with both teams constantly driving forward, probing for openings, reshuffling tactics and testing each other’s goalkeepers. Despite the seesaw nature of the game, with both teams creating chances aplenty to excite the crowd, neither team was able to break the deadlock and the score remained 1:1 at the final whistle. High profile referee Modeste Noumi had an easy day at the office- this normally feisty, competitive fixture was battled out earnestly and in good spirits with a draw being a fair reflection of the balance of play.

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The point sees FCKP keep their place at the top of the table with Siemensstadt just outside the european spots, though separated by only 3 points in what is shaping up to be a thrilling league campaign.

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Report by Brian