At Erzgebirge Aue the trend continues upwards. On Friday evening, coach Pavel Dotchev’s team won against Waldhof Mannheim after a strong fight. With the narrow 2:1 (2:0) success, the “Violets” freed themselves in the third division relegation battle and, in 14th place, are now temporarily four points ahead of the first relegation place.
Compared to the 1:3 at VfL Osnabrück, Aue’s coach Pavel Dotchev made only one change: Ivan Knezevic started in central midfield for the suspended Sam Schreck, who received his fifth yellow card a week ago. The opponents from Mannheim had no personal surprises after the 1-1 draw against SC Verl.
The hosts started the game well in front of 7,200 spectators, but the first dangerous scenes took place in their own penalty area: Dominik Martinovic took aim from the turn, Erik Majetschak blocked the shot (5th). Then Aues right-back Tim Danhof didn’t pay attention to a cross from the right, and Marten Winkler almost came to a final action (11′).
Sijaric puts Aue in the lead
However, Mannheim missed the early lead – and then Aue struck: The “Veilchen” switched quickly, Dimitrij Nazarov served Omar Sijaric with a dream pass. The right winger was free in front of Jan-Christoph Bartels, tunneled through the Mannheim goalkeeper and used the hosts’ very first chance to score – 1:0 (20th) thanks to brutal efficiency.
Jonjic raises for the “Violet”
Aue followed suit immediately, while Mannheim had to shake things up: Sijaric one-two with Marvin Stefaniak, this time Bartels saved from close range (22′). After another quick changeover, Sijaric was just a toe short of another pass from Nazarov (28′). On the other hand, Marco Schikora cleared a cross just wide of his own goal (30′). There was a lot of speed in the game now, it went back and forth. The more dangerous team was now Aue – and the hosts rewarded themselves a second time: Antonio Jonjic headed in a free kick from Stefaniak to make it 2-0 (40′).
Majetschak hits his own goal
After the change of sides, Mannheim tried to answer – and was immediately successful: A sharp cross from Alexander Rossipal extended Aues central defender Majetaschak unhappily into his own goal to make it 2-1 (50th). The tension was back in the game before the referee suddenly took center stage: first, under Auer’s protests, he called back another goal from Sijaric, who might have been offside when Linus Rosenlocher passed it on (53′), then he missed a clear handball by Stefaniak in his own penalty area (55th).
Aue leaves opportunities for decision-making
Mannheim then tried to equalize, but the guests hardly came up with dangerous actions. Aue defended passionately, but missed several chances to make a decision: Sijaric (69′), Paul-Philipp Besong (83′) and Maximilian Thiel (90’+4) missed the possible 3-1. Then it got tight again on the other side, but Aue survived the last Mannheim attack and finally celebrated the narrow home win.
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