Overview
- Rot‑Weiss Essen beat SG Sonnenhof Großaspach 1-0 on Sunday with Dickson Abiama scoring a 35th-minute header that decided the match.
- Coach Uwe Koschinat fielded more attacking options after the cup defeat, with Marek Janssen available and used early in the second half.
- The result is Essen's third league win in four games and improves a previously weak away record by taking valuable points on the road.
- Essen now sit two points behind joint leaders Viktoria Köln and MSV Duisburg, keeping them firmly in the 3. Liga promotion race.
- The earlier 1-2 DFB-Pokal loss to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig was a setback but staff and players treated league form as the priority for promotion and finances.