Vier Spiele an einem Fußballsonntag: Der VfB Hermsdorf im Fokus

Schauplatz Sportanlage Seebadstraße im idyllischen, grünen Norden Berlins zwischen Hermsdorf und Lübars. Wer als Fußballfreund am vergangenen Sonntag vor Ort war, hatte die Möglichkeit dort den gesamten Tag zu verbringen und sich hintereinander gleich vier Fußballspiele anzuschauen. Keine Frage, die Ausgangslage war optimal, um den im Jahre 1899 gegründeten VfB Hermsdorf und seine aktuellen Teams näher kennenzulernen. Seit 1998 spielt die erste Herrenmannschaft in der Verbandsliga, die nun Berlin-Liga heißt. Aktuell klopft diese nach oben an. Nach dem 1:0-Sieg gegen Tebe befinden sich die Hermsdorfer auf dem Platz an der Sonne.

Schauplatz Sportanlage Seebadstraße im idyllischen, grünen Norden Berlins zwischen Hermsdorf und Lübars. Wer als Fußballfreund am vergangenen Sonntag vor Ort war, hatte die Möglichkeit dort den gesamten Tag zu verbringen und sich hintereinander gleich vier Fußballspiele anzuschauen. Keine Frage, die Ausgangslage war optimal, um den im Jahre 1899 gegründeten VfB Hermsdorf und seine aktuellen Teams näher kennenzulernen. Seit 1998 spielt die erste Herrenmannschaft in der Verbandsliga, die nun Berlin-Liga heißt. Aktuell klopft diese nach oben an. Nach dem 1:0-Sieg gegen Tebe befinden sich die Hermsdorfer auf dem Platz an der Sonne.

Bevor jedoch am Sonntag die erste Herrenmannschaft antrat, standen zwei andere Partien auf dem Programm. Der Fußballtag begann um 10:30 Uhr mit der A-Junioren-Landesliga-Partie VfB Hermsdorf gegen SV Blau Weiss Berlin. Gleich im Anschluss trat die zweite Mannschaft des VfB Hermsdorf gegen die ersten Männer des SV Blau Weiss Berlin an. Highlight des Tages war das Spitzenspiel der Berlin-Liga zwischen der ersten Mannschaft des VfB Hermsdorf und Tennis Borussia Berlin. Wer danach noch immer nicht genug hatte, durfte sich echten Unterklassenfußball zu Gemüte führen. In der Liga “Untere ab 3. Herren Kreisklasse B” kreuzten der VfB Hermsdorf IV und der SC Gatow III die Klingen. Die verbliebenen Zuschauer wurden belohnt, denn es gab ein 4:4 zu sehen. 

Folgend ein auf Englisch verfasster ausführlicher Bericht über den langen Fußballsonntag in Hermsdorf:

It is not often that a football club gets to play two former 1.Bundesliga clubs in the one afternoon, but that is exactly what happened in the leafy suburb of Hermsdorf on Sunday. There was a feast of football on offer at Sportplatz Seebadstraße beginning with an A-Junior Berlin Landesliga match at 10:30am between VfB Hermsdorf and SV Blau Weiss Berlin on the Kunstrasen.  Honors went to the home team with a 2-1 victory, but in reality, should have been much higher except for plenty of wasted chances in front of goal, and some brilliant goalkeeping from the young Blau Weiss keeper. SV were cheered on during the second half by a small contingent of their fans who had arrived early in anticipation of watching their 1st team winning and consolidating their position near the top of the ladder.

The second team of Hermsdorf took on SV Blau Weiss Berlin in the second of today’s games, and the first to feature an old Bundesliga team at 12:15pm. From the opening minutes of the game, it was clear who the superior team both on and off (looking at the table, 3 v 12) was. SV opened the scoring in the 15th minute from a Boris Karadag volleyed shot from 25 meters out that curled and dipped with venom to find the right hand side of the netting, leaving the keeper glued to the spot.

11 minutes later the next chance for Blau Weiss fell to number 10 Rani Al-Kassem who was left free at the far post from a wide cross, but put his headed effort straight into the side netting. The best chance for Hermsdorf all half came in the 39th minute when Marco Krause was fouled on the edge of the box, however Marcel Bubner blasted the free kick straight over the cross bar.

Halftime provided a chance for the Hermsdorf players to regroup, who were lucky to go to the break only 1 goal down. In what was free flowing, end to end football, chances for both teams were created regularly, but not converted in the second half. Hermsdorf had a great chance to equalize 15 minutes from the end, when a Krause cross fell invitingly for Tim Greiffendorf, but the opportunity was put over the crossbar. A few minutes later, SV replied with a good chance of their own when Al-Kassem shot from 30 meters out, however the effort was saved well by Jeffrey Kraft. It took until the 90th minute for SV Blau Weiss to put the match out of reach of the gallant Hermsdorfer's, when former Tennis Borussia player Michael Fuß took a perfect 30 meter pass onto his right foot and from 8 meters out, put the ball into the back of the net, despite some close attention from the Hermsdorf defenders.  The final 2-0 result was well deserved for the guests, which with TSV Rudow II drawing with VfB/Einheit zu Pankow, and Eintracht Südring losing to SCC II, propelled them to the top of the 2nd group Bezirksliga. Hermsdorf however lost one place in the standings to sit 13th, just one win outside the relegation zone. 

As the Bezirksliga players left the field, the Berlin-Liga teams of VfB Hermsdorf and another former Bundeliga team, Tennis Borussia Berlin entered, to a loud cheer from both sets of fans. It is not often that TeBe fans are outnumbered, but today was one of those rare occasions. The call was put out to the Hermsdorfer fans to attend this crucial match, and wear as much red and white as possible, and they duly responded. Plenty of VfB Hermsdorf scarves were displayed, as much in support for their team, as for the cold weather which was slowly starting to roll in as the hours passed. Perfect football weather greeted the teams though at kickoff, where a minute’s silence was observed for Nico, an E junior player for Hermsdorf who sadly recently passed away.

The first half was a quality battle between two teams who were unwillingly to give an inch, and who both wanted to be crowned (depending on other results) number 1 at the conclusion of the round. The first opportunity to open the scoring came in the 15th minute to TeBe when Siewe Thokomeni’s cross went across the face of goal, just missing the foot of Cenk Akgün by inches. 

Shortly after came the loudest roar of the day from the crowd when Thokomeni was spectacularly tripped up in front of the TeBe Party Army.  The Chinese national swim team would have been proud of the form and length of time spent in the air! From the resulting free kick, Hassan Salhab put the perfectly delivered cross just over the crossbar.

The only real chance for Hermsdorf in the first half came in the 42nd minute from the boot of Kevin Bornfleth, whose ambitious shot from 35 meters went high and wide of the goals.  In time added on, Hermsdorf were lucky not to go to the change rooms a goal down, when Salhab took control of the ball at the edge of the 6 yard box, however resolute defending from Stephan Gerth prevented Salhab from turning with the ball and shooting.  In what was an entertaining first half, the crowd of over 200, were left to catch their breath and sample some of the cheap drinks and food on offer which as per usual, where served with heart and a smile. This is certainly not one of those clubs that try and gouge every cent from you before you leave the stadium!

After the break, both teams took the field with renewed vigor. TeBe dominated the early proceedings like they had in the opening half, with the first clear chance falling 5 minutes after the restart to Ivica Vukadin, who had the ball fall at his feet from a corner but blasted his shot wide from 10 meters out.  In what was a very strong defensive effort it took until the 71st minute before Hermsdorf had a chance to register their first effort on goal in the second half. Robin Moerer had a one on one chance with the keeper, however Marcus Jurzik stood strong and denied any chance of Hermsdorf opening their account. 

It wasn’t long before Moerer garnered some revenge though. A Stephen Trebes free kick eluded all the TeBe defenders allowing an unchecked Moerers to run though behind the last defender Vukadin, and head the ball past a stunned Jurzik into the back of the net.  A desperate TeBe were forced to attack more, however were almost caught out again when a long range effort from Zellner had the keeper beaten but hit the crossbar and rebounded into the field of play.  The follow up effort from just outside the box went just wide of the right hand post. 

For 78 minutes, TeBe looked the more dominate team on the pitch, but lady luck certainly was with the home team today. As a result, Hermsdorf ended the 13th week of competition in 1st place on the table with a trip to Mahlsdorf looming on Sunday afternoon, while Tennis Borussia drop 2 places to 7th, and have a home game coming up against Gatow in the Mommsenstadion on Friday evening. With only two wins separating places 1-10 in the Berlin-Liga, it certainly is a league to watch with interest with the winner advancing to the Oberliga Nord.

With the sun setting, it was time for the 4th men’s team from Hermsdorf to take on the 3rd team from SC Gatow in another match on the neighboring Kunstrasen. While the speed and quality of play was certainly not up to the previous matches, there was certainly no lacking in passion and attitude. A narrow 1-0 lead for Gatow was taken into the half time break. The 15 minute break must have done wonders for the boots of the strikers from both teams, with 7 goals being scored in the second half! This was certainly a game, where the dozen or so spectators never knew which team would end the 90 minutes on top. As it was, with the very last kick of the game, the number 17 from SC Gatow scored a wonder goal from a tight angle 30 meters out, which beat everyone and buried itself into the right hand corner. The crowd, players and benches erupted with delight at the strike and the 4-4 draw was a nice way to finish a long day in Hermsdorf. 

Fotos: Glenn Dawson

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