Chemnitzer 2-4 SV Meppen, Wednesday 31st July 2019

Chemnitzer 2-4 SV Meppen, 3.liga, att. 4,978 (Stadion Chemnitz)

Welcome to ....

With 15 minutes to the match and stuck in the scrum of the ticket queue (why only have 2 sales windows open for standing tickets?) and the rain tipping down, coming to Chemnitzer didn't seem such a clever idea.  Especially as one only had a short-sleeve shirt.  But the rain stopped as abruptly as it started, I was served and was still comfortably in for kick-off.  Stop the moaning to yourself!

The ticket queue.

This was my second visit to Chemnitzer, in the city formerly known as Karl Marx Stadt.  Previously, five, six years ago, the stadium was basic to say the least.  One small propped cantilever stand straddling the halfway line and three sides of open terracing.  Not ideal for rain, and not ideal for atmosphere.  Plans were afoot for a new completely covered stadium and here we were, it was built, on the same footprint as the old stadium.

Looking snazzy on the outside.

Chemnitzer have now been in their stadium 3 years.  They've kept the old entrance, but everything else has been knocked down and rebuilt: both side stands are now all-seater (with exec facilities in one - what is this fad with cutting out a chunk of stand so people can stand about?).  The home end is terraced while the away end, as at various other new German stadia, is mainly given over to seating, despite an overwhelming demand to stand.  For example, tonight, all SV Meppen's fans were standing in the one-third of that end given over to the visitors.  However, maybe Chemnitzer has the best of both worlds, as the middle section appeared to be seating/safe standing.  (There was another area like this in the Main Stand.)

The Wernergruner Business Club, in the heart of the Main Stand.

Does all-round cover help the atmosphere?  Well, depends on if the fans sing, of course.   But I couldn't help feel that at the old ground, it would be pretty miserable when it rained.  Mind, visiting at the start of a season, I normally see a stadium at its finest.  However, the chants were simply lost in the ether.  Today was much better.

The Chemnitzer crew made some noise.  I was given a ticket amongst their ultras, but snuck off to the side.  I like atmosphere, but I also like actually seeing the game.  Plus, Chemnitzer fans don't entirely agree with my political beliefs, if recent shenanighans with their HooNaRa ('Hooligans Nazis Racists') leader are anything to abide by.  How ironic, in a city formerly named after Karl Marx.

Looking towards the ultras, in the centre section.

It was an exciting game, 2-4 to the visitors, despite the home side leading twice.  Chemnitzer, three games in and one point, look a side in trouble to me.  They were susceptible to the counter every time and all four Meppen goals reflected this.  The opener came as Meppen, clean through, smashed it past the keeper's head; the 2nd, the keeper pulled off a brilliant save from the same player before the latter re-composed himself and smashed it past the keeper's head again.  No need for subtlety.

Saves me looking up the goalscorers.

The 4th was a cool backpost volley from a deep right wing cross, while my favourite was undoubtedly the 3rd.  A low right wing cross was missed by onrushing forwards and the Chemitzer right back, running back, wellied the ball with his left foot into the net.  Under no pressure.  I think he was just trying to put it out for a throw or corner but got it haplessly wrong.  His face was a picture.  (Note: the scoreboard didn't credit it to their own player.  But it did happen - it was right in front of me.)

In with the old; behind the home end.

Chemnitzer had opened the scoring, a player sticking out a leg to divert a flick-on from a corner.  Later, within a minute of Meppen's (first) equaliser, Chemnitzer re-took the lead as their tall, gangly (never a footballer) left winger controlled the ball for the first time in the match and pulled it across goal for an easy finish.  At this point, the crowd was buzzing and scarves twirled around the ground.  But within minutes it was 2-4 and many fans headed for the exit.  The season looks one of dread.

The Damage:
€13 ent
€3 beer (400ml)
€3.50 bratwurst
€1 programme
= €20.50

The Tunes:
Bagsy Me (Wannadies)
Behind the Counter with Max Richter (Various)
Big Balloon (Dutch Uncles)
Big Calm (Morcheeba)
Biggest Bluest Hi-fi (Camera Obscura)

Stayed at:
Hostel Mondpalast, Dresden (€19)

community4you Arena panorama

Workers of the world!

Not coming to a park near you.

The main entrance.

The SV Meppen coach.

AKA the home end.

Those were the days!

The teams come out.

Another week, another protest.

The sparsely populated (expensive?) Main Stand.

The Meppen hardcore.

Looking towards the away end.

Front of the Main Stand.

'Alternative' is the 'norm' in East Germany.

Meppen miss a late free kick.