Waldhof Mannheim remains undefeated even after the third day of the new third division season. Coach Christian Neidhart’s team won 1-0 (0-0) in front of their home crowd against Erzgebirge Aue, who had been relegated to the second division.
The SV Waldhof Mannheim wanted against Erzgebirge Aue his good start to the season continue even if the last minute draw in Verl a little setback after the victories last Sunday at the start of the 3rd division against Viktoria Cologne and in the DFB Cup against Holstein Kiel had been.
Aue first with the better chances
The guests from the Ore Mountains had the first good chance of the game. Ulrich Taffertshofer shot just wide of the left post of the Waldhof goal from almost 16 meters (6th minute). Mannheim, however, found it difficult at the beginning to come to dangerous conclusions. The next top-class goal went to Aue: A cross from Linus Rosenlocher was unluckily deflected by SVW offensive player Baris Ekincier, causing the ball to drop over Mannheim’s keeper Morten Behrens and bounce off the inside of the post (18′).
Ekincier fails at Klewin
A battle-focused game then developed, but without any highlights worth mentioning – up to the 39th minute. Dominik Martinovic hung up the heel for Alexander Rossipal, who had run with him. The defender’s sharp cross put attacker Ekincier on the Auer goal, but keeper Philipp Klewin was there.
No goals in the first 45 minutes
Almost in return, former Kaiserslautern player Elias Huth passed to Tim Danhof, but the visitors’ midfielder pulled out of a promising position. So it went into half-time without a goal.
The Waldhof came out of the break with fresh momentum and immediately put pressure on them. Berkan Taz missed slightly from just under 16 meters (53′), two minutes later Huth failed for Aue after a counterattack by Mannheim keeper Behrens.
Lots of speed, little danger
After the initial phase, the game flattened out again – like in half one. Many duels and many playback errors caused little flow of the game. It went back and forth at high speed and there were isolated deals on both sides, but it wasn’t really dangerous.
In the final phase, both teams picked up the pace again – and now the Waldhof had chances. A cross from substitute Adrien Lebeau landed on Adrian Malachowski, who was also substituted on. The midfielder flicked the ball into the Auer goal from 16 yards out, but failed to hit the inside post (83′).
Joker Winkler with the goal of the day
The hosts didn’t have to fret about it for long. In the 86th minute, another substitute, Marten Winkler, headed in after a free-kick from Rossipal and scored a lucky punch from ten yards out.
SV Waldhof Mannheim – Ore Mountains Aue 1:0 (0:0)
SV Waldhof Mannheim: M. Behrens – J. Riedel, Seegert, Karbstein, Rossipal – Höger, Russo (73rd F. Wagner) – Ekincier (60th Lebeau), Bahn (78th Malachowski), Taz (60th Kother) – Martinovic (Winkler 73) Erzgebirge Aue: Klewin – Schikora, Majetschak, Nkansah, Rosenlöcher (Barylla 88) – Nazarov (Taschtschi 87), U. Taffertshofer, Knezevic (Jastremski 70) – Danhof (Thiel 78), E Huth (69th fright), Stefaniak Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden) Spectators: 7,468 Goals: 1:0 Winkler (86th)
In the remaining minutes Aue ran, but Mannheim defended the narrow lead. It remained 1-0, the SVW now has seven points from three games as third in the table – and can look forward to a successful start to the season.
