FC Energie Cottbus

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Bundesliga, Matchday 15 PREVIEW
Energie Cottbus - Karlsruher SC

In their battle for a UEFA Cup spot, Karlsruher SC are hoping for their fifth away win of the season against cellar dwellers Energie Cottbus. "I'm expecting a rock-hard game. Cottbus is going to try to batter us down", said KSC coach Edmund Becker.

Karlsruhe haven't found the back of the net in their past two away games, but they've only lost once in their past eight games.

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Energie Cottbus 2 - 0 Karlsruhe

62' [1 - 0] S. Angelov
75' [2 - 0] D. Rangelov

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For the first time since the 5th matchday, Energie Cottbus do not find themselves in last place in the Bundesliga table.

Energie defeated Karlsruher SC 2-0 (0-0) thanks to scores by Stanislaw Angelov (62nd min.) and Dimitar Rangelov (74th min.).

The win puts Bojan Prasnikar's squad past MSV Duisburg until at least Sunday. But Energie still remain three points away from climbing out of the relegation zone.

Promotion club Karlsruher SC have now lost two away matches in a row after having been the best away club in the Bundesliga along with Bayern München und HSV.

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Gerhard Tremmel transferred from Hertha BSC Berlin to FC Energie Cottbus in the summer of 2006.

But in the beginning, the goalie saw little playing time in the Bundesliga. Tomislav Piplica was the number 1 guy in the Cottbus goal.

And it looked as if nothing would change in the current season and that the 29 year-old would have to sit the bench.

Prasnikar decided to make the change

But after a disappointing start for FC Energie, coach Bojan Prasnikar decided to make the change at goalie.

Tremmel has now been the man protecting the goal since the 11th matchday. In this time, Cottbus have won their first two matches of the season, allowing them to climb back out of the relegation zone.

In an interview with bundesliga.de, the goalie talks about the club, his individual situation and about the difference between Bojan Prasnikar and Petrik Sander.

bundesliga.de: Mr. Tremmel, first congratulations for victory against Karlsruher SC. Does this win give you momentum as we near the end of the first leg of the season?

Gerhard Tremmel: We hope so. We definitely hope to earn a couple points from the last two matches.

bundesliga.de: How many points is a couple?

Tremmel: Optimally, six. Four would also be good. But it should definitely be three.

bundesliga.de: You've been the man between the posts since the 11th matchday. The results have been a draw, two wins, two losses. How satisfied are you with your own performance?

Tremmel: I became goalie at a time when nothing was working for us. It wasn't an easy situation for me. But in the meantime I've found my rhythm and continue to feel more and more comfortable.

bundesliga.de: Do you ever think Tomislav Piplica could be put back in to replace you?

Tremmel: I don't think about that. I just focus on myself and what I have to do.

bundesliga.de: What is your relationship like with Tomislav Piplica?

Tremmel: It's excellent. We're fair with each other.

bundesliga.de: Did you think coach Bojan Prasnikar would promote you? After all, Tomislav Piplica has a high standing in Cottbus, especially with the fans.

Tremmel: That's true. But the coach isn't influenced by those things. I've always been working to get to this point and was happy when the coach gave me the chance.

bundesliga.de: Energie have won their first two matches of the season under Bojan Prasnikar. What did he change in relation to his predecessor Petrik Sander?

Tremmel: We play more offensively. Even in training the coach has us play more aggressively. That's bearing fruits now. The squad understands what the coach wants and executes it on the pitch.

bundesliga.de: The last match of the first leg is a home one against your ex-club Hannover 96. Is that a special match for you?

Tremmel: Of course it's always significant when you play against your former club. I still follow things at 96. But on the 17th matchday, the only thing that counts is three points.

bundesliga.de: Why will Cottbus not be relegated?

Tremmel: We're playing the best football of the clubs that are currently in the relegation zone. Maybe not the most successful but I hope things will turn around in the second leg.

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Bundesliga side FC Energie Cottbus have secured the services of two players. Both will join the bottom club during the winter break.

FC Energie Cottbus have signed Ivan Radeljic and Dusan Vasiljevic.

Current Bosnian international Radeljic joins Energie from Croatian side Slaven Belupo and has signed a contract until 2011.

One defender, one midfielder

The 27 year old central defender will wear shirt number 28 at Cottbus.

Vasiljevic currently plays for Hungarian club Rakoczi FC Kaposvar.

The 25 year old midfielder transfers for an undisclosed fee. He too will sign a contract until 2011.

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Cottbus will be without Stanislav Angelov for the match against Hamburg.

The influential Bulgarian is serving a one-match suspension.

"It hurts to be without him for such a difficult game," coach Bojan Prasnikar said.

"He has become a fixed mark in our system. We have three players who can replace him - either Stiven Rivic, Stathis Aloneftis or Francis Kioyo, but I have to give that some thought."

Mariusz Kukielka (groin) is also missing for the visitors, who last weekend clinched their second win of the season when they beat Bundesliga new boys Karlsruhe 2-0.

The victory left Cottbus three points from safety, having been seemingly cut adrift at the bottom a few weeks ago after failing to win any of their first 11 games.

"The Karlsruhe match was important but it does not matter anymore," Prasnikar said. "It was good to keep a clean sheet though."

SportingLife

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Bundesliga, Matchday 16 | PREVIEW
Hamburger SV - FC Energie Cottbus

Third-placed HSV suffered their first Bundesliga defeat since mid-September in Bremen last weekend.

The hosts will be without David Jarolim (fifth booking), and coach Huub Stevens thinks that "the match will be decided mentally".

Bottom club Energie are still waiting for their first away win, but are in good spirits following the win over KSC.

"We will play as a team, be disciplined and dangerous going forward", Cottbus coach Bojan Prasnikar said.

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Hamburger SV 0 - 0 Energie Cottbus

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HSV failed to break down Cottbus. The guests earned an important point as HSV failed to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season.

The goalless draw means that HSV stay third and Cottbus at the bottom of the table.

Energie concentrated on defending. HSV missed their first chance after just eight minutes when a shot from Rafael van der Vaart went just wide.

Tremmel, Tremmel, Tremmel

Guy Demel was denied by Gerhard Tremmel after 26 minutes, and the Energie keeper clearly was man of the match.

Three minutes before half-time he kept out Paolo Guerrero's shot from point-blank range and Nigel de Jong's follow-up.

Guerrero and van der Vaart miss

And two minutes later it was again Guerrero who failed to find a way past Tremmel.

Guerrero (53, 73) and van der Vaart (68, 81) had further opportunities in the second half, but Energie held on for their fourth away draw of the season.

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BL, MD17 / Energie Cottbus 5 - 1 Hannover

11' [1 - 0] C. Bassila
30' [2 - 0] D. Sørensen
44' [3 - 0] D. Rangelov
65' [4 - 0] D. Ziebig
68' [4 - 1] T. Kleine
70' [5 - 1] D. Rangelov

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The biggest win in their Bundesliga history has given Energie Cottbus fresh hope in their battle against relegation. The eastern German side beat Hannover 96 5-1 (3-0) to move clear of the bottom three, where they have been since matchday 2 - until tomorrow at least.

Record win

A 13,000 crowd saw Christian Bassila (5.), Dennis Sörensen (30.), Dimitar Rangelov (44. 69.) and Daniel Ziebig (65.) find the net as the home side racked up five goals and outdid their previous best result in the top-flight, a 4-0 win against St. Pauli in March 2002.

Defender Thomas Kleine scored a consolation goal for Hannover, by which time they were already four down. After back-to-back victories, it was a disappointing showing from the guests, for whom a win would have ensured their best first-half of a season since the Bundesliga was formed in 1963.

Wrapped up by half-time

Cottbus carried on where they had left off in their last two games, going on the offensive from the first whistle. They were soon rewarded, with Bassila powering home the opener from a corner with only five minutes on the clock. On the half-hour, Sörensen connected with a low cross from Rangelov to double the home side's advantage, before Rangelov turned finisher with a fine solo effort to effectively kill the game before half-time.

Applause from the terraces

96ers coach Dieter Hecking brought on Vahid Hashemian and Jan Rosenthal for the restart in an attempt to turn the tide, but it was the hosts who continued to set the tone.

Highlight of the half was another great individual strike, this time from Daniel Ziebig. The clock ticked down on the game to the sound of continuous applause from the Cottbus fans for their side's best performance of the season to date.

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Suspension for da Silva?

The DFB disciplinary panel is inquiring into FC Energie Cottbus player Vragel da Silva.

The defender is accused of elbowing Hanover's Gaetan Krebs in Friday's Bundesliga match.

The referee didn't spot the incident, and the DFB will now review the TV pictures and wait for statements from da Silva and Krebs.

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Energie arrive in China

FC Energie Cottbus have arrived in China and settled down in Guangzhou.

Following a press conference with huge media interest, the team then entered the stadium of the South-Chinese city for their first practice session.

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FC Energie Cottbus kicked off their tour of China with a draw against the country's Olympic side.

A crowd of 10,000 in Foshan saw the Chinese go in front through Ting Zhu in the 74th minute, but Ervin Skela snatched an equaliser for the visitors in the dying minutes of the game.

The match was an entertaining end-to-end affair for the fans, with both sides creating chances throughout.

Rivic comes close

Yu and Zhenyu both squandered opportunities to put the hosts in front in one-on-one situations with FC Energie keeper Tomislav Piplica. At the other end, Efstathios Aloneftis hit the post just before the break, while Stiven Rivic fired a 15-metre effort narrowly wide shortly after the restart.

FC Energie's next opponents are the Chinese national side, in Guangzhou on Thursday (13:00 CET).

FC Energie Cottbus: Piplica � Ipsa, Mitreski, Cvitanovic (46. Wachsmuth), Ziebig � Bassila (46. Skela) � Angelov, Rost (75. Feick) � Shao (46. Rivic) � Rangelov (60. Trytko), Aloneftis (53. Sörensen)

Goals: 1-0 Zhu (74.), 1-1 Skela (84.)