SV Waldhof lost at home against SC Verl and has now been waiting for a win for eight league games. The crisis in Mannheim continues to worsen.
“We’re fed up,” was the message echoed from the SV Waldhof Mannheim fan block towards the lawn in the final minutes of the game. After the 1:2 against SC Verl, the Mannheimers are still deep in the bottom of the table in the 3rd league, and the crisis seems to have no end. Rüdiger Rehm’s team has been winless for eight league games SV Waldhof was recently knocked out of the state cup. Everything started off pretty well for the blue-blacks on Friday evening (November 24th).
Okpala ends goal drought
The first ten minutes in Mannheim saw initial attacks on both sides, but it only became really dangerous once: Jalen Hawkins curled a shot from the left-hand position just past the far post (10th). Inspired by this first good chance to score, Mannheim continued to apply pressure and were rewarded just two minutes later. Lockl served Kennedy Okpala, who pushed the ball over the line from five meters to make it 1-0 (12th). Okpala, who was allowed to start for the first time this season, ended SV Waldhof’s offensive lull in the 3rd league after 345 goalless minutes.
Kennedy Okpala scored the goal against Verl to make it 1-0, but Mannheim still lost 2-1 in the end.
Coach Rüdiger Rehm’s hosts subsequently had a few good opportunities to extend their lead, but they lacked the final consequence in the end. SC Verl – who arrived fourth in the table – increasingly created dangerous attacking situations towards the end of the first half, but remained largely harmless in the decisive actions. At the break it was 1-0 for Waldhof Mannheim.
First the crossbar, then the game was turned
SC Verl carried the momentum from the final phase of the first half into the second half. First Lars Lokotsch, who had just been substituted, hit the crossbar of the Mannheim goal with a header, but shortly afterwards the ball was in the goal. After a long throw-in from Torge Paetow, Nicolas Sessa headed the ball to Oliver Batista Meier, who went around Waldhof keeper Jan-Christoph Bartels and made it 1-1 (49′). Malte Karbstein tried to save on the line, but in the process maneuvered the ball over the line.
Mannheim looked battered, Verl struck again. Maximilian Wolfram hit the crossbar with his head (59th), Lars Lokotsch after great preparatory work from Batista Meier made it 2-1 for Verl in the 63rd minute. Lokotsch, who came in for Patrick Kammerbauer for the second half, regularly posed big problems for the Mannheim defense and earned his 7th goal of the season. After the second goal, SC Verl slowed down significantly and Mannheim struggled to create a few half-chances. Until the 87th minute: Substitute Minos Gouras crossed to Pascal Sohm, whose header was directed onto the post by SC goalkeeper Luca Unbehaun. The effort was there, but it was no longer enough for the Electoral Palatinate to equalize.
Due to the 1:2, SV Waldhof has now been winless in the 3rd league for eight games, and the pressure on coach Rüdiger Rehm is increasing from failure to failure. Verl, on the other hand, celebrated their fourth league win in a row and is still one of the top teams in the 3rd league.
Mannheim welcomes Ingolstadt, Verl against Dresden
On the 17th matchday of the 3rd league, SV Waldhof Mannheim can play again in front of their home crowd. The Electoral Palatinate hosts on Saturday, December 2nd. FC Ingolstadt. The game will be broadcast live on SWR from 2:00 p.m. One day later (December 3rd from 1:30 p.m.) SC Verl is in action at home against Dynamo Dresden.
