Draw against Rakow despite host of chances | OneFootball

1-1 draw in first test of training camp

Our Red Bulls drew 1-1 against Polish runners-up Rakow Czestochowa in their second friendly of the winter. Yorbe Vertessen scored the for our lads, who missed several good chances, with three shots hitting the woodwork.

MATCH SUMMARY

Our Polish opponents from Czestochowa are currently fourth in the league, one point behind the leaders, and second in the UEFA Conference League, where they defeated our league rivals Rapid 4-1. Accordingly, the game was played at a high tempo from the start, although clear-cut scoring opportunities were initially scarce.

After about half an hour, the game became played more into the opponent's half. A pair of chances for Maurits Kjaergaard and Sota Kitano were blocked by the Rakow defense, and Kitano's subsequent attempt then rebounded off the post and out of play (40'). Shortly afterward, Edmund Baidoo missed from close range (42').

Seven fresh players came on at half-time, but we didn't make a great start. A careless back pass from Bischoff landed at the feet of Rakow's centre-forward Makuch, who finished to give the Polish side a 1-0 lead. Moussa Yeo then had the first chance to equalize, but his shot went just over the bar. Only a minute later, Yorbe Vertessen made amends. He converted a superb pass from Jacob Rasmussen from about 20 metres out to level the score at 1-1 (56').

Just a short time later, the Belgian, who turned 25 two days ago, even had the chance to give us the lead, but couldn't get enough power on his effort. A substitution after about 60 minutes brought about a very unusual back four due to several absences, which, from right to left, consisted of Anrie Chase, Lucas Gourna-Douath, Jacob Rasmussen and Enrique Aguilar. Shortly after, we celebrated going 2-1 up for a moment until and offside call came.

High and extremely determined pressing subsequently led to several more excellent opportunities for Onisiwo (68') and Yeo (69'), both of which were from close range but brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper, and for Vertessen (73') with a left-footed shot that flew just past the top corner, as well as a Yeo volley (after a Bischoff cross). Despite a Vertessen shot turned by the Rakow goalkeeper onto the post, a top chance for Onisiwo, and a shot by Bidstrup that struck the crossbar - we failed to get the winning goal that we would certainly have deserved.

LINE-UP

Schlager (46. Zawieschitzky); Trummer (63. Chase), Schuster (45. Rasmussen), Gadou (63. Gourna-Douath), Krätzig (63. Aguilar); Kitano (46. Yeo), Diabate (46. Bidstrup), Kjaergaard (63. Diambou), Alajbegovic (46. Bischoff); Baidoo (46. Vertessen), Konate (46. Onisiwo)

VIEWS

Thomas Letsch

Jannik Schuster

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