A great year despite defeat – SV Elversberg lose to Schalke 04
SV Elversberg lose 1:4 to Schalke 04, since success lies in the details. Nevertheless, SVE can look back on a fantastic year.
SV Elversberg’s coach Horst Steffen used virtually the same starting eleven as in their impressive 3:0 away win in Braunschweig, making just one change: having been on the bench in Lower Saxony, Damar returned to the opening lineup to replace captain Schnellbacher. For the visitors from Gelsenkirchen, Kees van Wonderen planned to keep the same team that he used in their 1:1 draw against Düsseldorf. However, the coach was forced make a last-minute change when Seguin withdrew, replacing him in the starting eleven with Grüger.
The match began at a fast pace and Schalke took the lead in just the 11th minute. Kenan Karaman demonstrated his individual skill by moving from the left to the centre to fire the ball into the goal from 14 metres away. However, the home team were not deterred and fought back.
In the 25th minute, Carlo Sickinger equalised with a 22-metre shot. Schalke’s goalkeeper Justin Heekeren looked unhappy at letting the ball slip through his fingers. The match then developed into an open exchange of blows with opportunities on both sides. Ultimately, the teams headed into half-time with the scoreline at a fair 1:1.
Schalke put in a stronger performance after the change of ends. Moussa Sylla put the visitors back in the lead in the 55th minute. Sylla took advantage of a precise pass from Derry John Murkin to fire the ball safely into the near corner. Twelve minutes later, Ron Schallenberg extended this lead: after a build-up play error by Elversberg, Karaman gained the ball and launched a cross for Schallenberg to hit home from close range.
The final blow was struck once again by Moussa Sylla, in the 75th minute. Following a sharp cross by Adrian Gantenbeim, Sylla was ready and waiting to fire the ball into the far corner.
Whilst Elversberg missed out on the opportunity to head into the winter break at the top of the table, Schalke secured a vital, well-earned victory to round off the year. Schalke’s efficiency near the goal was particularly impressive: they gained four goals from just six shots, significantly above their average expected goals value of 1.41. Elversberg headed the board in various statistics (54 percent ball possession and passing accuracy of 78 percent) but were unable to convert this into goals.
For SV Elversberg, the new year begins with a home game against 1. FC Magdeburg on Sunday 19 January at 1:30 p.m. Schalke are travelling to Braunschweig the previous day for a match on Saturday 18 January at 1 p.m.
Schalke’s coach Kees van Wonderen was succinct and visibly moved at the press conference after the game, but did not go into detail about the events on the pitch: ‘We are of course happy with the result, and that we have gained points after a difficult match. But in the end, that is all irrelevant when you hear what happened in Magdeburg. Our thoughts are with them. It is very difficult to talk about the game.’ Nevertheless, he had some praise to offer their opponents: ‘They have played a fantastic season with a good philosophy, my compliments for that’, van Wonderen said of SV Elversberg.
We are of course happy with the result, and that we have gained points after a difficult match. But in the end, that is all irrelevant when you hear what happened in Magdeburg. Our thoughts are with them. It is very difficult to talk about the game.
Kees van Wonderen
Elversberg’s mood was muted after the defeat, despite their pride in their season so far. ‘Ah, I would not have been unhappy to head into Christmas top of the table. But we have also had a truly great year’, coach Horst Steffen said to Saarbrücker Zeitung (SZ). However, when asked about the decisive moments in the match, he seemed frustrated. ‘Let me put it like this: some decisions did not go our way. I still do not know why I got a yellow card’, Steffen explained to SZ.
The situation before Schalke went up 1:2 was a particular topic of discussion. Captain Sickinger explained: ‘I asked him to please watch the moment again on video, as it could be absolutely crucial for the game. All he said was that it would not have been enough.’ Sickinger added: ‘Even the Schalke players said it was a foul. It annoys me that the referees always think their word is law, and then they are too proud to take another look.’
Striker Luca Schnellbacher also expressed his displeasure: ‘Last week we had a goal disallowed, even though there was no foul. Today we conceded a goal despite a foul. These are all such important decisions, and I cannot understand why they will not just take another look.’ Goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof agreed: ‘Lots of decisions like that went against us today. Sometimes I just don’t understand it.’
Despite the disappointment, coach Horst Steffen took a conciliatory view: ‘We did well today. My boys demonstrated the commitment that I wanted to see. However, we saw once again today how close things are in this division and how success lies in the details.’ Elversberg are now heading into their winter break and looking ahead to the second half of the season. They will be seeking to switch off and rest before things kick off again in 2025. At fourth place in the table with 28 points, this year’s Christmas celebrations will be a good one, despite losing in their final game. Even so, their performances this year have been good – and SVE will be seeking to build on this in the new year. They will then have an opportunity to keep making history in Magdeburg in just under four weeks.
We did well today. My boys demonstrated the commitment that I wanted to see. However, we saw once again today how close things are in this division and how success lies in the details.
Horst Steffen