In a previously unannounced private match against Dutch first division side Almelo, Arminia prevailed on Thursday with a changed formation. Among the good news were three new additions to the squad.
It was a private match on a neutral pitch that had not been publicly announced in advance for organisational reasons: in a test match “halfway” in Emsdetten, Westphalia, Arminia Bielefeld beat Heracles Almelo from the Dutch Eredivisie 2-1 (1-1) on Thursday. “They deserved the win,” Frank Kramer summed up his players’ performance after the 90 minutes. “They had bitten into the game and did well in the end. “
The coach had started the match without his four current international players: Joakim Nilsson (Sweden) and Alessandro Schöpf (Austria) are away with their home teams, Austrian junior international Patrick Wimmer (laryngeal contusion and adductor blister) and also Andres Andrade (Panama, muscular problems) gave up their trips at short notice and are recovering in Bielefeld.
Laursen sets accents on the right
The rest of the squad presented itself newly formed in a 5-2-3, in which unaccustomed Jacob Laursen on the right and Lennart Czyborra on the left flanked the defensive three-man line with Amos Pieper in the centre. Laursen, who had been showing signs of improving form of late, promptly added a special touch when he levelled the Heracles lead at the break in the 43rd minute.
Vasiliadis and Fernandes make their first extended appearances
In the second half, the summer newcomers, among others, provided some bright spots. Janni Serra scored the winner in the 54th minute – “only” on a penalty kick, but the striker, who has struggled to get going this season, was undoubtedly pleased with the result. Another positive aspect for the East Westphalians was that Edimilson Fernandes (on loan from Mainz after COVID) and ex-Paderborn player Sebastian Vasiliadis (after tearing his syndesmosis) both played a full half in the central midfield for the first time and could well play an important role in the next Bundesliga match against FC Augsburg on Sunday in a week’s time.
