Three stick hits: Elversberg shocks Fürth

Newly promoted SV Elversberg came a lot closer to staying in the league on the 25th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga and won 4-1 (1-0) at SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Sunday (March 10th, 2024).

The man of the match was striker Paul Stock, who scored three goals (25th, 72nd, 82nd). Dominik Martinovic scored the fourth goal (87′). Dennis Srbeny equalized for the Fürth team (61′). At this point the Fürth team were already outnumbered after Robert Wagner was shown the yellow-red card in the 49th minute.

This means that the SVE now has 35 points, which has been enough to stay in the league in recent years. “We had to cope with a lot, but we just kept playing. The way the boys performed with confidence was remarkable.”said Elversberg’s coach Horst Steffen at the Sportschau microphone.

Fürth, on the other hand, failed to catch up with third-placed Hamburger SV on points and slipped to seventh place with 38 points. For Fürth, it was the second defeat in a row after the defeat against KSC the previous week.

Fürth harmless – Elversberg scores

Fürth took control of the game right from the start and had more possession. The problem: The hosts were never really dangerous in front of the Elversberg goal in the first half.

The guests were completely different: A notable attack in the first half was enough for the SVE to take the lead straight away. Robin Fellhauer left Kerim Çalhanoğlu on the right and passed sharply into the middle. Stock stood correctly there and pushed the ball over the line (25th).

The first round actually didn’t have anything more to offer. And shortly after the restart, the game association suffered the next setback. After a tactical foul in midfield, Wagner was given a yellow-red card (49′).

Srbeny strangely scores to equalize

The game was now much more disjointed, with many interruptions and few goal scenes. There was actually no goal scene in the 61st minute, but the Fürth team still celebrated the equalizer.

Srbeny ran at Elversberg goalkeeper Nikolas Kristof, who had the ball safely at his feet, but then made a momentous decision: instead of passing into the open space to the left, Kristof played the ball to the right towards Hugo Vandermersch. That’s exactly what Srbeny was waiting for and directed the ball into the goal with his foot.

Elversberg was not shocked for long after Fürth equalized

But anyone who believes that Elversberg was shocked was mistaken. Because just eleven minutes after the equalizer, the guests were leading again. Paul Wanner dribbled into the penalty area on the right side and passed it across to Stick.

The Fürth team was able to clear his first attempt on the line by joining forces. However, the ball landed again at Stock, who then tried with force and scored powerfully to make it 2-1 (72′).

Seven minutes later, Elversberg should have made it 3-1, but Luca Schnellbacher failed after a four-on-one counterattack due to Jonas Urbig’s outstanding reaction in the Fürth goal (78th).

Stock puts together a hat-trick for Elversberg

But that shouldn’t take revenge anymore. Because just four minutes later, the next Elversberg counterattack rolled towards the Fürth goal. Stock grabbed the ball in the penalty area after Vandermersch was actually fouled. However, discussions about penalties were unnecessary because Stock confidently scored his third goal of the day.

Five minutes later, Martinovic made it 4-1 after another counterattack (87th). “I’m happy about the three points, but of course also about the hat-trick”said Paul Stock. “The goals weren’t that difficult to score, I was well presented and was often in the right place. There are days like that when you’re a little more lucky.”

Fürth to Rostock, Elversberg to Kiel

SpVgg Greuther Fürth now continues next Saturday (March 16, 2024 at 1 p.m.) with an away game at Kellerkind Hansa Rostock. SV Elversberg welcomes promotion hopefuls Holstein Kiel at the same time.