Osnabrück prevailed 2-1 at SC Verl on Monday evening. In the first half, VfL punished the hosts’ negligent use of chances, which kept them stuck in the bottom of the table. The visitors, meanwhile, snatched 2nd place.
Both clubs had to admit defeat to SC Freiburg recently. While Verl lost 3-2 in the league against the second team of the Breisgau side, Osnabrück was unfortunate to lose in the cup against SCF, who are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga.
Verl coach Guerino Capretti was therefore forced to make some changes to his starting eleven. Ezekwem, Corboz, Schwermann and Schmitt were replaced by Jürgensen, Sapina, Mirchev and Rabihic. Osnabrück coach Daniel Scherning, on the other hand, only made two changes, bringing on cup scorer Klaas and Simakala for Kunze and Opoku.
In an even first half in which chances were by no means in short supply, the hosts had the first chance worth mentioning: Rabihic cleverly laid off for Putaro in the penalty area, but he shot next to the far post from close range (2nd). Then the favourites woke up and had two chances to score through Simakala (11th, 17th), before the third corner in a row gave VfL the lead in the 22nd minute: Simakala crossed to the head of Trapp, who gave Thiede no chance with the back of his head.
Verl misses, Osnabrück add to their tally
Verl tried to respond directly and had the best chances to do so, but Rabihic (23rd), Lannert (32nd) and Stellwagen (34th) could not get the ball over the line. Osnabrück, on the other hand, were much more efficient and made it 2-0 through Klaas, who was wonderfully served by Taffertshofer, and punished SCV’s lack of chances (35th). Before the break, VfL were also lucky that referee Max Burda did not point to the spot after a controversial tackle between Kleinhansl and Rabihic. Earlier, goalkeeper Kühn had unhappily blocked a shot from distance by Sapina (45th + 1).
Akono’s goal not enough for Verl
In the second half, however, Kühn distinguished himself when he saved a shot by Rabihic with a quick reflex in the 60th minute. Ten minutes later, however, Osnabrück’s goalkeeper was beaten as Akono scored with the back of his head less than 120 seconds after coming on as a substitute.
VfL kept the hosts away from the goal until the final stages, but in the five minutes of injury time, Verl sealed the relegated side’s penalty area. Defender Jörgensen hit Taffertshofer’s hand after a corner, but as in the first half, the referee’s whistle remained silent (90.+4). Osnabrück got the numerous high balls defended in the end and thus took three points from Lotte.
Verl thus remain stuck in the bottom of the table and will now face the league leaders on the coming matchday on Sunday (2pm) in Magdeburg. VfL, on the other hand, jump to second place thanks to the away three and will face 1860 Munich at home next Saturday at 2pm.