Bitter Home Defeat While Down To Nine Men

SV Wehen Wiesbaden lost its home fixture 1:2 on the 28th match day to FC Ingolstadt. Maurice Malone opened the scoring for the Red and Blacks against the second in the table after only nine minutes. Moritz Kuhn (60’) and Dennis Kempe (82’) were both sent for an early shower.

The SVWW starting XI began with two changes for this home game against the Upper Bavarians. Having sat out his yellow card suspension, Dennis Kempe came back into the team for Jakov Medic who himself was suspended with his fifth yellow card. In addition, Moritz Kuhn replaced the injured Marvin Ajani at right back.

The Red and Blacks were plucky to begin with, pressing early, and attempting to stop the guests getting into their game. It wasn’t long until the first goal opportunity came along after a brisk start by SVWW. Paterson Chato crossed to Gustaf Nilsson – but Fabijan Buntic in the FCI goal was on the spot (3’).

Ingolstadt’s phases of possession were fairly limited in the first few minutes. However, as soon as the “Schanzer”, as the Ingolstadt team is called, were given the opportunity to combine, things became dangerous. Following an attractive combination, Kevin Kutschke took a shot but the ball smashed against the crossbar behind keeper Tim Boss (7’).

A wake-up call for the Red and Blacks that led directly to a counter attack. SVWW started an attacking combination from Chato to Gianluca Korte and Nilsson, whose final pass to Maurice Malone cut between two defenders. Malone wasn’t going to be distracted by keeper Buntic, and he tipped the ball into the net to go into the lead (9’).

Despite going behind, FCI were settling down nicely, which resulted in a solid attacking game. Time and again, the “Schanzer” looked for top striker Kutschke in midfield, who coolly equalised on his second opportunity.  Marc Stendera passed to the 1.94 m giant, whose header left SVWW keeper Boss no chance at all – 1:1 (12’).

The Red and Blacks continued to have more possession while FCI relied on a quick switchover from a compact defensive line, making life difficult for SVWW. The host defenders were now getting used to the counter attacking, which is why there were very few top opportunities in this initial phase. Kutschke’s header just over the goal after 30 minutes was the nearest either team got to scoring another goal.

Only two minutes later, SVWW went on the offensive again. Kuhn’s corner dropped at Korte’s feet, at the edge of the box, and he volleyed it towards the goal. Keeper Buntic had his hands full but managed to stop the ball with a reflex reaction (32’). In a similar situation, Boss held off a distance shot from Stendera (36’).

Shortly before the break, FCI managed to put a damper on things after all. Kutschke poked the ball from the baseline to Merlin Röhl who fell to the ground in the penalty area after a challenge from Kempe – penalty for Ingolstadt. Kutschke took on the job and converted to make it 1:2 at the break from a SVWW point of view (44’).

After the break, Ingolstadt were somewhat stronger and put the SVWW defence under pressure again and again. Fatih Kaya moved around midfield beside Kutschke, but was blocked in a good kicking position by Sascha Mockenhaupt. Sebastian Mrowca moved up beside Mockenhaupt as centre defender for Flo Carstens.

It was another ten minutes before the Red and Blacks popped up dangerously again in front of the “Schanzer” goal. Johannes Wurtz didn’t manage to put the necessary power behind the deflected ball, a difficult to control chip (54’).

Things got really bad for the Red and Blacks after about an hour. Filip Bilbija fell at the edge of the penalty area after a challenge with Kuhn. Referee Florian Exner pointed to the spot, cynical foul, and sent the SVWW defender for an early shower (60’).

Down to ten men, the Red and Blacks held their own against imminent defeat. Nilsson got past Tobias Schröck, but Buntic managed to block the finishing shot from the Swede. Marc Lais’s subsequent shot whizzed just over the guest goal (66’).

The game now picked up pace. SVWW were fighting for the equaliser but FCI continued to try to close off the game. Boss dealt with a distance kick from Bilbija, and shortly after that Malone put the ball past the far post from a tight angle (70’).

It was hardly noticeable that Ingolstadt had more men on the field. Again and again the hosts threw themselves into the challenges, looking to attack, but the precision in the final kick was missing. The SVWW defence stood firm, letting nothing pass them. A distance shot from Kaya was the most dangerous move by FCI since outnumbering their opponents (75’).  FCI were now increasing the pressure. Caiuby put the ball just past the post, and SVWW made every effort but were unable to provide relief (78’).

As if things weren’t bad enough, Dennis Kempe was shown a second yellow card after a foul in midfield. Despite this, the Red and Blacks didn’t give up and showed great courage. The substituted Benedict Hollerbach took things into his own hands but put the ball just past the post (84’).

After this, Ingolstadt made good use of having more people on the pitch and even had another chance to make it 3:1 with Dennis Eckert Ayensa, but Boss made a strong save for a corner (88’). At the other end of the field, Hollerbach almost had a final shot but FCI keeper, Buntic, held on to the victory for the guests (90’).

SVWW: Boss –Kuhn, Mockenhaupt, Carstens (45’ Mrowca), Chato –Korte (80’ Hollerbach), Kempe, Lais (67’ Niemeyer), Malone (80’ Brumme) – Nilsson, Wurtz (67’ Tietz).