Elversberg did the start today with an important 3-2 win against Offenbach. Elversberg always led with one goal and Offenbach equalised until the last goal a few minutes before the end. Hot game with an ejection for both teams already in the first half. I assume Payne and Lawson played, more about it on Monday.
Osnabrück played with Enochs in a 1-0 win in Uerdingen. Osnabrück still did not find a satisfying shape in 2003 and needed lots of luck that short before their goal a pk was not given to Uerdingen; also a last minute clearance on the line rescued them the three points that keeps them on rank 3. In this shape I see them being overtaken by Paderborn sooner than tjey pass Wattenscheid or Essen at the top. Verl seemed to be able to do a surprise on the road. They led 2-0 at halftime at the second ranked Wattenscheid. Admittedly this were the only two attacks of theirs and the lead resulted from one of the most ridiculous pk’s I’ve ever seen (the players did not even touch another – the TV announcer had to start laughing when seeing the replay). After HT Verl couldn’t stand the pressure and lost 3-2 at the end – in the second half bad luck for them that at 1-2 a clear and intentional elbow check was not seen by the refs. While opponent Wattenscheid climbed to the top, Verl drops to 11 with still 3 points to the relegation zone. Don’t know if Maurer played, he was questionable before the start with a minor injury. Neunkirchen lost another road game, 0:1 at Darmstadt. I don’t think that Shoffner played. From what I saw Neunkirchen wasn’t even bad and would have deserved a point. Wehen had Matarazzo starting in a 1:1 road draw at Stuttgarter Kickers. After a poor first half, Wehen improved and got a deserved point that makes them stay 12th with two points distance to the relegation spots. Saarbrücken played the third game in 2003 - and finished with the third draw. Bitter as this includes home draws against the two worst teams of the league. If Siegen doesn’t lose tomorrow, Dooley’s team is fourth with promotion far away (8 pts and the second has one game more to play). Siegen has the only Sunday game. Situation is that they have the same number of points as the first relegating team (but secure goal difference), so they should use it for creating a distance. Without a win they’d stay 14th, with a win they’d climb to rank 10. Norkus already played today with the reserves and had 22 minutes as substitute player
Short information in between as I just checked Siegen's live ticker: HT score is 1-0. Lukin started as left backer, only scene in the first half was when he created a chance with a long throw-in. van Buskirk is still injured. Norkus is on the bench for the first time.
Final score in Siegen 1-1. Unfortunately Lukin caused the pk that led to the equaliser. Norkus came in after 74 minutes, but had no scene. Lukin had one good run over his wing, but his pass to the back of the defence was not exact enough for converting it.
Summary: Starting with the South (Siegen look last post): Shoffner DNP, Matarazzo went full 90 as left mid this time. For Elversberg Payne and Lawson went full 90 as well, while Mason had seven minutes as substitute after his injury. In the North Enochs went full 90, while Maurer DNP due to a minor injury.