In the basement duel of the 2nd Bundesliga between VfL Osnabrück and SV Elversberg on Sunday (September 3rd, 2023) it looked like a goalless draw for a long time. Then two jokers ensured Elversberg’s first second division victory.
It was the 79th minute when Elversberg’s Paul Wanner, 17, crossed and Wahid Faghir, 20, headed in to make it 1-0 (0-0). It was the interaction of two newcomers who initially sat on the bench in Osnabrück and then made the difference.
Wanner had loaned SVE from FC Bayern during the week. He is considered a great talent in midfield, he has already played for Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Nevertheless, his medium-term chances of assignments were rather low. For Elversberg he was immediately a co-decision-maker.
Joy at Elversberger Trainer – the “new” help immediately
This also applies to Faghir, who was loaned out by SV Elversberg from VfB Stuttgart. He has also shown his ability in the first few weeks and now has two goals and two assists in five games in the league.
Elversberg’s coach Horst Steffen was happy: “It’s great that after good games we sometimes play less well and got three points for it.” Especially as far as the two newcomers were concerned, who had a corresponding share, Steffen was correspondingly satisfied.
Osnabrück has chances, but doesn’t score
Elversberg was also able to thank goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, he held on to victory with a brilliant save from a shot by Osnabrück’s Christian Conteh.
Even before that, VfL Osnabrück had sometimes created opportunities, but there was always something. A volley from Florian Kleinhansl was only centimeters away (48′). And when attacker Erik Engelhardt got a shot from close range, goalkeeper Kristof was there (17′).
First victory in the 2nd division for Elversberg
With the first win in the fifth league game, SV Elversberg climbs to 15th place in the table. It was also the first second division success in Elversberg’s history. The SVE now has 4 points. Co-promoted VfL Osnabrück, on the other hand, has lost four of the first five games and is 18th in the table.
Osnabrück’s coach Tobias Schweinsteiger was critical of the Sportschau microphone: “We just don’t have the consistency. If you see what a huge effort we’re taking on and then don’t see the free man, don’t score.” Elversberg then handed two or three scenes, said Schweinsteiger. “The boys work hard and don’t reward themselves. We still lack the dirt for the second division.”
Elversberg against HSV, Osnabrueck in Hanover
SV Elversberg welcomes Hamburger SV on the coming match day (Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 1 p.m.). Osnabrück plays in Hanover a day later (1:30 p.m.).