SVWW narrow defeat to Champions in season finale
Pros |
SV Wehen Wiesbaden started into the second half of the 3rd Liga season with a draw. Manager Rüdiger Rehm’s XI showed double courage, twice coming from behind. Jakov Medic (59’) and Phillip Tietz (77’) scored the goals to secure a 2:2 draw against SC Verl.
After a two-week break in play at SVWW due to the cancellation of their away game against Dynamo Dresden, Rehm changed four positions in his starting XI. Moritz Kuhn, Florian Carstens, Benedict Hollerbach and newcomer Gustaf Nilsson replaced Marvin Ajani, who became a father for the first time on Friday, Ahmet Gürleyen (groin injury), Lucas Brumme and Phillip Tietz.
Without much ado, both teams got straight down to business, moving forward. The first successful play by SVWW was created with the newly formed right wing. From the wing, Kuhn passed to play maker Dominik Prokop who passed to Hollerbach. The final shot by Hollerbach however was too close to the centre of the goal and was easily taken up by SCV keeper, Robin Brüseke (1’).
The hosts too showed great commitment and spirit from the start. Five minutes into the game, Zlatko Janjic, who wore the SVWW jersey from 2010 to 2013, managed a scissors kick from about 11 metres out but put the ball just over the crossbar.
Verl were now comfortably finding their game in their home stadium. The East-Westphalians won back the ball again and again in centrefield with agressive challenges. With their combination of quick switchover and considered play in possession, SCV put the red and black defence constantly under pressure. However, the defenders around Sascha Mockenhaupt stood firm and let nothing through.
Down the other end of the pitch, a set piece provided the next opportunity for SVWW. A header by Nilsson from a corner taken by Kuhn-Ecke was scraped off the line by Christopher Lannert, and Brüseke was able to deal with the subsequent volatile shot by Maurice Malone (12’).
Nonetheless, Verl still had the greater possession and appeared more dangerous than the guests. After a cross by Kasim Rabihic, Aygün Yildirim got the ball in the penalty area. While Kuhn managed to clear the first shot by the SCV striker, Yildirim managed to put the rebounding ball past Tim Boss and Mockenhaupt and into the net, to put the hosts in the lead (20’).
SVWW pulled itself together after going behind and were now settling in nicely. Possession was increasingly balanced and the Red and Blacks were starting to show more initiative in attack. Nilsson threw himself into the high duels in the Verl box, and an attempt to clear the ball resulted in it landing at Paterson Chato’s feet. Chato’s dropkick from the edge of the box brushed past the right-hand post of keeper Brüseke (30’).
The hosts continuously tried to use their wing players. A precise movement of play from the centre put Yildirim along the left wing and into a position to shoot, but Tim Boss kept a tight grip on things (40’). Shortly after, Janjic didn’t quite connect with the ball and put it past the goal from 12 metres out (43’). Referee Patrick Schwenger then blew the whistle for half time.
After the re-start, the guests took a few minutes to get back into the game and to regain their composure in possession. By losing the ball when setting up their game, the Red and Blacks were inviting SCV to come and counterattack, but they still managed to hold off the hosts at the last minute.
There was little of note in the first quarter of an hour of the second half. As it turned out, a set piece provided the first real opportunity. Prokop took the corner from the right, found Jakov Medic at the far post who nodded the ball in from a short distance for the equalizer (59’). Down the other end of the field, Rabihic attempted a reply but his shot from a distance wasn’t a problem for SVWW keeper Boss (62’).
Soon after, Rabihic had to leave the pitch, making way for Patrick Schickowski. With his first touch of the ball, the right winger moved into centrefield, took a shot from 18 metres out, Boss hadn’t a hope. The ball hit the inside corner of the net – the lead once again for the hosts (65’).
The match now picked up speed and even SVWW were carving out more goal opportunities. From a short distance out, substituted Luca Brumme put his header just over the bar. Prokop then slid the ball from the corner of the box just past the Verl goal (66’/67’).
Of course, moving up the pitch, the guests were opening up space to be counter attacked. Twice the Verl forwards advanced towards the SVWW defence in greater numbers and twice they failed to make use of these huge chances. For this reason, the final phase opened up completely and SVWW were increasingly able to exercise more pressure. The substituted Brumme and Tietz, in particular, were very dangerous in their attacking game and together provided for the equalizer again. After a high cross from Prokop, Brumme moved into the centre for the conversion, which was blocked to Tietz. However, Tietz kept his nerve and calmly put the ball in the net (77’).
The final moments saw both teams playing for a win. Verl had two more opportunities with Janjic and Julian Schwermann, but Tim Boss held on to secure that away point.
SVWW: Boss – Kuhn (81’ Guthörl), Mockenhaupt, Carstens, Kempe – Medic, Chato (73’ Tietz) – Hollerbach (46’ Brumme), Prokop, Malone – Nilsson