Trembling, goosebumps and penalties: A surreal evening in Kiel

Huge cheers in freezing temperatures: Holstein Kiel has just knocked out FC Bayern.
imago images/Holsteinoffice

January 13th is icy. On the fjord and in the drafty Holstein Stadium, the cold always creeps into your body a little more. Especially when it quickly becomes deserted, as it was on this Wednesday evening. The protagonists are down on the pitch, a good dozen media representatives up in the stands and the officials in the row in front.

Holstein President Steffen Schneekloth sits, warmly wrapped up and with the required safety distance of one seat and one row of chairs, next to Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The Bayern bosses are first shivering from the cold. And then from the prospect of progressing, which actually seems to have been secured early on.

Serge Gnabry, playing as a centre-forward, scored early from an offside position to make it 0-1 – there are no video assistants in the second round. After Holstein veteran Fin Bartels equalised before the break, Leroy Sané set the course again immediately afterwards with a free kick. Apparently.

In a full stadium, the 2:2 would have caused ecstasy

Kiel tried hard, but rarely came close to scoring. When the snow started to fall shortly before the end, Rummenigge and Hoeneß hid under their hats and blankets in the quickly empty main stand. And even reporters, who might be longing for a sensation given the close score, longed for the end.

On an evening when no one is allowed outside, those who are only want to go inside – except for the storks. Because Joshua Kimmich is treated for a long time in the last minute of regular time and three minutes of injury time, there are another 60 seconds of extra time. And Hauke ​​Wahl makes the most of it.

In a full stadium, his 2:2 would have sparked ecstasy. Now the Kiel players, dressed in their special black cup jerseys, are celebrating with a mixture of exuberance and disbelief, and shortly afterwards there is silence again. And trembling.

The first horns can be heard behind the main stand

The cup evening remains surreal in every respect. When the Holstein pros Ahmet Arslan and Jae-Sung Lee want to take their penalties, the ball is caught by a gust of wind, but the Kiel team is used to attacking. After both teams have converted their first five shots, KSV keeper Ioannis Gelios tackles Marc Roca, then Bartels converts, runs to his goalkeeper and to the standing area where the most die-hard fans usually stand.

Kiel’s players celebrate in front of empty stands, still with a mixture of exuberance and disbelief, the coaches and doctors from the bench rush towards the crowd of players with masks on their faces. As has been the case for years and is still the case today, the Holstein anthem is played: “No other city, no other love!” Although there is no one there to sing along, it is not a moment for keeping a safe distance, but one for goosebumps.

When the anthem dies down, things slowly get loud again. The first horns can be heard behind the main stand. Not much is happening during the Corona period – but the motorcade in Kiel on the night of January 13, 2021 is.