But the second half in particular showed that nerves are likely to become a factor in the promotion race. Just don’t lose seemed to be the motto – and so it was not surprising that it ended in a draw. The “Lions” stay four points ahead, but have a game more on their account.
“Both teams had something to lose”
“You could see that both teams had something to lose,” said VfL manager Amir Shapourzadeh, who found the result fair in the end. His counterpart Peter Vollmann explained: “I’m not entirely satisfied. But the point is okay, our prospects are still good.”
Braunschweig’s Jannis Nikolaou saw his fifth yellow card and will be suspended for the coming weekend. NDR is showing the game against TSV Havelse (Saturday/2 p.m.) live again.
Osnabrück starts strong and counters Braunschweig’s 1-0
Osnabrück started very powerfully – and neither the Braunschweig guard nor goalkeeper Jasmin Fejzic seemed stable. But Ba-Muaka Simakala missed the first good chances (3rd/8th).
VfL made a much better impression, but the guests shone with their individual class. Lion Lauberbach defended the ball strongly on the left and gave it inwards with pinpoint accuracy. Sebastian Müller ran in where the center forward should have been and the ex-Osnabrück resident scored with a left volley to make it 1-0 (17th).
The goal had an effect, the hosts were nowhere near as offensive. However, Eintracht’s Vollmann was annoyed at half-time that his team had begged for the 1-1. Instead of playing focused on the second goal, only Osnabrück had chances. Sebastian Klaas (21st) and Aaron Opoku (28th) failed, but seconds before the break Marc Heider pushed in to make it 1-1.
Both teams risk nothing more
After the change of sides, however, the game could no longer keep up with the good mood in the stands. It was clear to both teams that they didn’t want to risk losing in the promotion race. Osnabrück still had optical advantages and also one or the other chance. But Fejzic was no longer seriously tested. But it remains really tight in the top third of the table in the third division.
Whoever makes the ascent clear at the end. VfL captain Heider will continue to play for Osnabrück in the coming season. The 35-year-old American had already extended his expiring contract by another year before the game.
Match statistics VfL Osnabruck – Eintracht Braunschweig
27th matchday, 26.03.2022 2:00 p.m