Bayer coach Erich Garske has to manage without a number of regular starters and instead relies on players from the junior and reserve teams. Without key players such as regular keeper Fredy Mutz, the twin brothers Karl and Martin Gramminger as well as Werner Torner and Hans-Otto Peters, the Werkself came under pressure early on.
Horst Maier gave the Black and Yellows a deserved 1-0 lead on 11 minutes. Although Reiner Arenz equalised for Bayer 04 in the 20th minute, Schlebusch right winger Johann Stahlberg restored their lead before the break - 2-1 to the underdogs.
After the restart, SV Schlebusch even increased their lead to 3-1 on 54 minutes. The Werkself now took command and created several chances, but were thwarted either by the uncompromising defence of Matthias Valentin - a former long-time Bayer 04 referee organiser - or by the outstanding goalkeeper Werner Steilen.
Steilen, a former Bayer 04 youth player who had even received a call-up to the Germany team in the 1950s, excelled himself in this match. In the 1955/56 season, he played in goal three times in place of the injured Fredy Mutz in the Oberliga West, but otherwise mainly featured for the reserve team. Now, however, he shone against his old team-mates - with saves to keep out Heinz Höher and Werner Röhrig, among others - and he secured a sensational triumph for his team.
After the final whistle, there is no holding back: SV Schlebusch celebrate frenetically, the small club has defeated its big neighbour. Although the exit came in the next round of the Pokal against FC Köln - the Goats won 4:0 - the historic victory against Bayer 04 remains unforgotten in these parts.
And: Eight years later, in 1968, SV Schlebusch struck a similar blow once again. They beat the Regional League West champions 1-0 and knocked the Werkself out of the Pokal.
Michael Ballack was born on 26 September 1976 in Görlitz, in what was then East Germany. His talent for football became apparent at an early age. After his family moved to Karl-Marx-Stadt – now Chemnitz – he began playing football for BSG Motor ‘Fritz Heckert’ Karl-Marx-Stadt, where he steadily developed his skills. From Year 7 onwards, he attended the Children’s and Youth Sports School and received systematic sporting support, which, in 1988 – due to his growing skill as a player – led to a move to FC Karl-Marx-Stadt. At the age of 16, he had to take a six-month break due to growth problems, but after that, Michael was unstoppable.
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José Elias Moedim Júnior, known as Zé Elias, was born on 25 September 1976 in São Paulo. He received his football training at Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, or Corinthians for short, and was promoted to the first team at the age of just 17. PSV Eindhoven had already taken notice of him by this stage, but the move to Europe was still too early for him. The tenacious defensive midfielder established himself in the first team over the following three years. With Corinthians, Zé Elias won the São Paulo City Championship and the Brazilian Cup in 1995. With his excellent vision, his determination and his assured ball control, he made a significant contribution to his team’s success.
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In their second season in Bundesliga 2 North, the Werkself face Fortuna Köln at their home ground, the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, on matchday 7. Both teams are level on seven points, sitting eighth and ninth in the table.
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In this video you can see impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 from the month of September. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
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September gets off to a disastrous start, though not for the Werkself: the German national team, featuring Bayer 04 players Jens Nowotny, Michael Ballack and Oliver Neuville, suffer a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of England in a World Cup qualifier at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. Jens Nowotny, in particular, came in for sharp criticism. With this defeat, Germany’s direct qualification is now hanging in the balance.
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