Hansa Rostock brings a point back to the Baltic Sea from Fürth. But it is expensive: three professionals have to leave the field injured early on, four are now suspended in the home game against Kaiserslautern.
Rostock (dpa / mv) - Three injured and four suspended: Hansa Rostock paid dearly for the point win in 2: 2 (0: 1) at Greuther Fürth. However, the joy of not having lost prevailed among the protagonists. "If you're a goal behind, get another yellow-red card and then take another point, you feel more like a winner," said midfielder Lukas Fröde, describing his state of mind after the turbulent clash between the two former Bundesliga clubs.
Defensive man Fröde was, as almost always, one of the assets in coach Jens Härtel's team and once again excelled on offense. His goal to make it 1-1 was after all his third goal of the season. Only Kai Pröger (4 goals this season) has scored more often for the Hanseatic League. "I was able to assert myself quite well. There was also a bit of luck involved. The ball still misses two legs," said the 27-year-old.
However, the native of Fulda would not have been so happy about his goal if Ryan Malone had not converted a penalty kick forfeited to Svante Ingelsson in the very last second of injury time and sent the 1,500 fans who had traveled with them on their 651-kilometer journey home. "We really deserved the point. We don't have to be ashamed of that," said coach Jens Härtel, rightly so.
"It was an enormous effort of will on the part of the team to push again and again when outnumbered and to become dangerous again and again," the 53-year-old praised the performance of his badly battered squad.
After 45 minutes, only Rick van Drongelen was left in front of Rostock's four-man defense. Nico Neidhart and Anderson Lucoqui were already on their way to the hospital after a collision with head injuries, but were able to start the journey home with the team. Damian Roßbach was able to leave the field on his own feet in the last minute of the first half, despite his injury.
Whether the trio can play again next Friday (6.30 p.m. / Sky) in the home game against promoted 1. FC Kaiserslautern is open. In Fröde, Malone and Ingelsson, three main actors of the guest performance with the Middle Franconia will definitely not be there. All of them have been booked for the fifth time this season and will miss the Red Devils, as will John Verhoek. The center forward saw yellow and red in Fürth in the 62nd minute.
