Heidrich Paves the Way for Cottbus's Victory in the Brotherly Rivalry Against Aue

Young striker Phil Heidrich led Energie Cottbus to a friendly victory over Erzgebirge Aue during the international break. In the second-division club’s match against the regional-league team, the 19-year-old center forward scored both goals for the hosts in the 2-1 (2-0) victory. At Priorgraben in Cottbus, the younger brother outshone his older brother Finn—who was playing for the Saxons—in the 14th and 39th minutes.

In addition to the national team players on call-up, Energie coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz also left out his attacking players Lucas Copado, Leonardo Bittencourt, Jannis Boziaris, and Justin Butler. Nevertheless, the hosts dominated the match against the team playing two divisions below them—both had played together in the third division last season—but failed to create more clear-cut scoring chances.

After halftime, Aue played much more aggressively. Christoph Pauling, a former Cottbus player who came on at halftime to replace Aue’s striker Marcel Bär, had a chance to pull one back in the 58th minute when he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Marcel Lotka. Six minutes before the end, the striker finally scored to make it 1–2. Finn Heidrich had set up the play. Linus Queißer missed the chance to tie the game in the 87th minute when his shot hit the post.