1952–53 DDR-Oberliga championship play-off

Both teams played in their regular formation, each having played their last league game in the same formation. Dynamo immediately went on the offensive and had a great chance after five minutes through Karl-Heinz Holze, but the right-winger shot the ball too close to the Wismut goalkeeper, who deflected it over the goal. Just a minute later, Dynamo's right-back, Manfred Michael, was more successful. Dynamo received a free kick, 30-metres in front of the Wismut goal. Since goalkeeper Rudolf Schmalfuß did not make a wall, Michael had free shooting range. His powerfully-shot ball initially hit goalkeeper Schmalfuß's shoulder, before hitting the bar and finally going into the goal. Immediately after falling behind, Wismut started a counteroffensive. But the attack play of Aue was too inaccurate, and too little was played through the wings. The Dynamo defence, organised by Herbert Schoen, had no problems with Aue, who were constantly pushing forward. Nevertheless, Wismut were able to equalize just before the break. Aue's best player up until then, centre-forward Willy Tröger, received a cross from the outside-left winger Kurt Viertel and was able to overcome Dresden goalkeeper Heinz Klemm with a low shot into the right corner.

Immediately after the start of the second half, the sheet momentum seemed to turn to the advantage of Wismut Aue. A header from Dresden's Schoen landed to Wismut striker Karl Wolf, who immediately passed to Armin Günther, who was standing free in front of the Dynamo goal. Günther had no trouble whipping the ball past the goalkeeper. After scoring their second goal, Aue's players concentrated on defending their lead. Both midfielders were now defensive, and even the strikers Karl Wolf, Günther, and Viertel withdrew into the defence. Dynamo's players did not succeed at first to overcome this compact stronghold. Only Holze put Aue keeper Schmalfuß to the test. In the final quarter of an hour, both coaches substituted on fresh players to the field. For Dresden, Wolfgang Hänel replaced centre-forward Gerhard Hänsicke, and for Aue Alfred Gräfe came on for the left-outside winger Viertel. As surprising as Dynamo Dresden took the lead, the team came equalised three minutes before the end of the second half. Aue's goalkeeper Schmalfuß punched the ball from a corner kick to the feet of Günter Schröter, who put the ball past several Wismut players into the goal.

In the first half of extra time, neither team was able to get an advantage. As the game progressed, the players began to struggle with stamina. With eight minutes of the game remaining, Dynamo's Holze made the difference. After a one-two pass between Günther Usemann and Kurt Fischer, the ball was played to Johannes Matzen. Matzen crossed the ball right in front of goal, which Holze powerfully shot into the back of the net. This meant game was ultimately decided by the two errors of Wismut keeper Schmalfuß.