Kickers Emden triumphs 8:3 in the friendly against Nordhorn!

Kickers Emden triumphs 8:3 in the friendly against Nordhorn!

On Friday evening the time had finally come: Kickers Emden played in a preparatory game against Vorwärts Nordhorn after the game against SC Cambuur Leeuwarden was canceled at short notice. Loud NWZonline Around 250 spectators watched the encounter, which ended with a brilliant 8:3 victory for Emden. The first half was an exciting spectacle, with the score tied 3-3 at the break.

Emden started strong, but missed a few chances, which gave Nordhorn the opportunity to take the lead through Kamaljit Singh in the 10th minute. Emden didn't let this discourage them and equalized in the 17th minute with a header from Marten Schmidt. Levin Heidrich gave Nordhorn the lead again, but Emden managed to turn the game around shortly before half-time with goals from Schiller and Schmidt, only to go into the locker room with a 3-3 score after a penalty for Nordhorn.

Smart move and personnel bottlenecks

Coach Stefan Emmerling made some tactical adjustments during the game. The use of Michel Eickschläger as right-back, due to personnel shortages, turned out to be a smart move. Jarno Janssen was missing due to muscular problems, and Tobias Steffen and Michael Igwe were in the stands, with Igwe suffering a mild concussion. This illustrates the current challenges in the squad, as revealed in an interview with Emmerling Kicker is to be read.

With a breath of fresh air in the team, which was strengthened after the runner-up finish, Emmerling is optimistic. “We are far from finished,” emphasizes the coach and sees his team as a strong contender for the championship. He is planning a more playful orientation, away from long balls. The competition is fierce, especially on the offensive, where Theo Schröder could potentially endanger captain Tido Steffens' regular place.

Strong performance in the second half

In the second half, the Emden team showed a significant increase in performance. Emeka Oduah, who returned from a fractured cervical vertebra, scored from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute, and Mika Eickhoff had the crowd cheering again in the 61st minute. Oduah wasn't finished yet and scored another goal, while Kai Kaissis and Theo Schröder added in the 78th and 82nd minutes. “A nice start,” said Emmerling, summing up the performance.

The squad changed a lot during the summer break. In addition to the newcomers already mentioned, such as goalkeeper Norman Quindt - born on November 2nd, 1996, 28 years old and with a market value of 75,000 euros - Jarno Janssen was also signed, who is considered a replacement for Tim-Justin Dietrich. Another talent that the competition could inspire is Emeka Oduah.

The look into the future

With a view to the coming season, Emmerling completed squad planning early. He is aiming for a place in the top three of the league in order to return to the third division. In addition to Kickers Emden, SV Drochtersen/Assel, VfB Oldenburg and SV Meppen are also expected in the championship race. Every team has its ambitions, and the Emden fans can look forward to an exciting season.