The cup, so it is said, has its own rules. Even more unpredictable than that, however, are the Ruhr derbies. Sometimes the favourite wins, while the presumed favourites to win have left the field of play with their heads hanging on more than one occasion. The history written during the derby of 2008 was of a very special nature indeed.
You just need to believe in yourself.
The match was in its 63' minute as Kevin Kuranyi of Schalke 04 had a free header in the 18-yard box in front of the North Stand, a fantastic opportunity to take the game to 4-0 for the visitors, but one that he spurned.
Alexander Frei has been participating in the game now for 18 minutes. It is his first match after a long layoff due to injury; and not one of the 80,552 spectators in a sold-out Signal Iduna Park on this sunny August afternoon would bet one cent on the victor's name on this day being anything other than Schalke 04. The Miners are winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Farfan, Rafinha and Westermann. There are exactly 27 minutes left to play.
Borussia Dortmund are awarded a corner kick four minutes after Kuranyi missed his great chance on goal. Alexander Frei hits the ball towards the back post, right onto the head of centre-half Neven Subotic – and suddenly the score stands at 1-3. The first to believe a turnaround might be possible is stadium announcer Norbert Dickel. He questions on BVB Netradio: "Is there still something in this for us?"
There is certainly still something in this for us!
Alex Frei is as hot as a deep fat fryer. "Jürgen gave me this great little saying as I made my way out to come on. He put his arm around me and said, heroes are born in such games", said the Swiss in an interview with schwarzgelb.de. He rifles the ball into the goal from 20 metres out in the 70' minute. After having trailed 3-0, Borussia have reduced the deficit to 3-2. There are still 20 minutes to play, the stadium has since turned into a madhouse, and the opposition are looking nervous. Next, Pander leaves the field of play after picking up a second yellow, and so red (73'), before Ernst is shown a straight red (76'). Eleven Borussia men against nine Schalke players.
The Royal Blues manage to hold their fortress until the 89' minute. But then, a penalty is given for handling the ball. Alex Frei steps up and scores to take the score to 3-3. "This game developed its own completely unique dynamic. This day was also really special for the fans. It was just knife after knife into the hearts of the Schalke fans." The Miners had missed out on the title almost exactly a year beforehand. The Swiss scored then too in May 2007, as Dortmund won the match 2-0 having gone into the game as underdogs. A total of four goals in five derbies.
Alexander Frei left an indelible mark behind him after his three years at BVB, and had made an old adage come true: "Heroes are born in such games." Boris Rupert
