TuS Makkabi Berlin – SV Sparta Lichtenberg 1911 (03-06-2023)

We arrive at the Mommsenstadion, home to Tennis Borussia Berlin, about 15 minutes before kick-off. To our great surprise, it is packed. There is a line of hundreds of people waiting to get in and we can’t find a ticket office that sells tickets anywhere. Fortunately, my friend is well connected within the Berlin soccer world and gets us in.

Today they play the regional amateur cup finals in all German states and we go to the cup final in the state of Berlin, which is between TuS Makkabi Berlin, a traditionally Jewish team that plays in the NOFV Oberliga Nord (Fifth Division), and SV Sparta Lichtenberg, who just won the Berlin Liga (Sixth Division). Makkabi is from the former West, Lichtenberg from the former East.

The game is already on its way when we enter, even though hundreds of people are still outside, waiting to get in. Inside, there are officially some 4,600 people, roughly one third of each team and one third others — including many fans of Eintracht Frankfurt, who are in town for the DFB Cup Final tonight.

The crowd is largely local, Makkabi a bit more middle class, Lichtenberg a bit more working class, but overall not too clear class profile. The fans of the two teams are pretty white, but the other fans are pretty mixed, just like Berlin.

In the 12th minute, Lichtenberg gets a penalty after a foul on the striker, which is perfectly converted: 0-1. In the 29th minute, Makkabi has a great attack, which is saved by the goalie and the rebound header goes wide. About ten minutes later a good Makkabi cross is headed from inside the box but goes just wide. Half time score: 0-1.

The second half was much poorer. In the 55th minute, despite a rough collision between two players, who remained injured on the pitch while the game continued, a great shot from the rebound goes in: 1-1

After the equalizer, Makkabi is better but creates very few chances. Poor first control leads to compensations that make the game look more physical than it is. In the 90th minute Makkabi has the biggest chance, after a bit lucky attack, but the player shoots the ball wild over the goal. Score after regular time: 1-1.

In the first period of extra time nothing happens. Lichtenberg has the ball but creates very little. The second period starts with if a Makkabi chance that is met by a great save by the Lichtenberg goalie. Some five minutes later, Makkabi again goes alone at the goalie, who pushes him wide, after which he shoots in the side net. Several other Makkabi chances also lead to no goal until in the 120th minute, in which they get a free kick just outside of the box and the Makkabi players scores it beautifully through the crossbar: 2-1. Three minutes into extra extra time Makkibi scores a third, after a well-played out attack in the box. After the goal the (good) referee blows the final whistle and the Makkabi players and fans go crazy.

This game proves, yet again, that Germany is the best country to watch football. Even at lower levels, there is atmosphere, community, and all affordable and friendly. This is my second Berlin Cup Final and both were very pleasant games at the end of the regular season. Definitely worth a visit!