Luckenwalde vs Optik Rathenow

Optik Rathenow's Willrich came agonisingly close to restoring the lead in spectacular fashion on the hour mark. From distance, he unleashed a dipping volley that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the goal-line — the officials ruled it did not cross. Had that gone in, the momentum would have swung decisively Optik's way.

Substitute Ousmane Sannoh then had two clear chances to win it for the Oberliga visitors: first through on goal only to be denied by the keeper, then after a long solo run that ended with a shot just wide.

Deep into stoppage time, Luckenwalde struck the post, preserving the 1-1 scoreline.

• Jamal Willrich (Optik Rathenow): The standout player on the pitch. His 35-second opener was a moment of genuine quality, and he was inches from a second with his second-half volley off the woodwork. A constant threat on the left side.
• Sofiene Rachid Janenne (Luckenwalde): Took his goal well, reacting fastest to the loose ball from a corner. His finish was the only real moment of incision Luckenwalde managed in a game where they dominated possession but lacked cutting edge.
• Simeon Hawwary (Optik Rathenow): Made several important saves, particularly in the first half when Luckenwalde were pushing for an equaliser. Commanding in his box.

Optik Rathenow's official website described Luckenwalde as enjoying "gefühlt 75 Prozent Ballbesitz" (an estimated 75% possession), yet the home side created relatively few clear-cut chances. The 1-1 scoreline reflected a game where Optik carried the greater threat in transition, particularly after the break. Luckenwalde's territorial dominance did not translate into sustained pressure on Hawwary's goal, while Optik could easily have scored two or three on the counter.

This was the third pre-season friendly of the summer for Optik Rathenow, who play in the NOFV-Oberliga (fifth tier). They had previously drawn 1-1 with VSG Altglienicke (27 June) and lost 12-2 to 1. FC Union Berlin (4 July). The performance against a Regionalliga opponent — one division above — will encourage head coach and supporters ahead of their Oberliga season opener at home to Berliner AK 07 on 9 August.

Luckenwalde, who compete in the Regionalliga Nordost, continue their own pre-season preparations. The 116 spectators at the Ruhlsdorfer BC ground saw a competitive workout that gave both managers useful minutes across their squads.

Optik Rathenow's next pre-season fixture is away to Hertha BSC II on Saturday 11 July at 12:00 local time.

A fair result in a friendly that served its purpose. Optik Rathenow will take more from it — their organisation, counter-attacking threat, and Willrich's individual quality all bode well for the Oberliga campaign. Luckenwalde will want more precision in the final third before their competitive season begins.