🤯 Extra-time drama in the top clash: Henrichs goes wild after wonder goal!

On matchday three, a true top clash was on the Icon League slate. Two Stripes United faced DNA Athletics, both teams coming in with two wins from two games and thus no points dropped.

Even before kickoff, the game drew attention — none other than David Alaba, team head of DNA, was on site and brought prominent support with Marko Arnautović. The two witnessed an intense, high-class match that was only decided in overtime.

Two Stripes got off to a much better start. Robert Andrich’s team dominated the opening phase and played impressively. After just twelve minutes it was 3–0 — and in spectacular fashion. The third goal came from a scene that was symbolic of Two Stripes’ display: the goalkeeper, Alex Taach, dribbled far out of his own box, beat two opponents with a roulette, then squared to Kaies Alaisame, who slotted in for 3–0. What an assist!

Benjamin Henrichs, who commentated the game together with Florian Malburg, was so impressed that he immediately sent a message to team head Robert Andrich — fully aware that he was with the national team shortly before kickoff against Northern Ireland. Whether he read it remains unknown. The performance of his team would certainly have deserved it.

Shortly before the break, DNA did manage to come back. After a timeout and a clear talk from Niklas Sommer and Alaba, they found their way into the game. Dominik Ammon and Oliver Gorgiev reduced the deficit to 3–2 within two minutes. The connection was made, and suddenly everything was open again.

After the restart, however, Two Stripes seemed to have the upper hand once more. Bilal El-Morabiti restored the two-goal cushion after winning the ball and made it 4–2. But DNA once again showed character — despite difficult circumstances. In goal stood Raffael Kobrovski, actually a field player, who had to replace injured first-choice keeper Tugay Akbakla. Still, the team kept fighting passionately.

With the Rulebreaker “Hero Ball,” in which the goals of a selected player count double, DNA Athletics were awarded a nine-meter. Darko Bodul stepped up, converted confidently — and thanks to the double-counting strike it was suddenly 4–4. That meant the first overtime of the new season, which features an important change: the winner now receives only two points instead of three.

In overtime, one player leaves the field every minute, and the golden-goal rule applies — whoever scores first wins.

When only two players per team were left on the pitch, Two Stripes had the kickoff. Bilal El-Morabiti had his back to DNA’s goal, spun in a flash, and dribbled straight from the kickoff spot — which is allowed in the Icon League. With this moment of genius, he surprised the entire DNA defense, dribbled through, and finished ice-cold.

The celebration was boundless; Two Stripes secure the win and remain unbeaten.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.