Fellhauer’s last-minute goal gives Elversberg a well-earned point

SV Elversberg show their mettle to gain a late 1:1 against Preußen Münster. It definitely could have gone better, could also have gone worse.  

In an intense match between SC Preußen Münster and SV Elversberg, the teams departed with a 1:1 draw. For the visiting team from Elversberg, Robin Fellhauer’s late equaliser almost felt like a mini victory, whilst the Münster players lamented losing a home win despite a courageous defensive performance and a long-held lead.

The match began well for SV Elversberg. Coach Horst Steffen’s team built up the pressure right from the start, and could even have taken the lead thanks to Luca Schnellbacher – however, his goal was disallowed as offside. Instead, it was the hosts who scored the first goal of the day in the 21st minute. Joshua Mees, originally from Saarland, put Münster in the lead with a precise shot from the penalty line, capitalising on an exemplary cross from Babis Makridis. SV Elversberg’s goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof had no chance of a save.

After taking the lead, Münster took a more defensive approach and deliberately stepped back to keep spaces tight and lie in wait to counter-attack. ‘We deliberately pulled back somewhat against a strong team. After we took the lead, we wanted to improve our defence, and made things difficult for Elversberg’, was the analysis by Münster’s coach Sascha Hildmann after the match. In fact, this meant that SVE were struggling to reach their opponent’s goal. The home team’s focus on defence paid off, and they reached half-time with a well-earned 1:0.

After the change of ends, the away team upped the pressure, but were initially unlucky finishing. The best opportunity went to substituted player Manuel Feil in the 71st minute, when he got within around eight metres, but was defeated by the Münster goalkeeper Johannes Schenk’s fantastic reflexes. Schenk, who drew attention throughout the game with some exceptional saves, kept his team in the match.

Given our ball possession, you might say that we deserved more. But it could also have been Münster up 2:0. And if it had reached 2:0, we most likely would not have been taking a point home.

Horst Steffen

However, Elversberg’s attacking players did not give up. In the final stages, coach Horst Steffen put all his eggs in one basket and brought on additional attackers to force an equaliser. ‘We were performing well, then a mistake put the score at 1:0. After that things were difficult because we made too many wrong decisions. In the second half, we were lucky not to be down 2:0. We then started very dominant play, and at least we are taking one well-earned point home’, Steffen said after the game.

The hosts, on the other hand, bemoaned missing the opportunity to increase their lead. It was Andras Nemeth who missed the opportunity that Horst Steffen mentioned. ‘If we had taken it to 2:0, and we had the opportunity to, it would have been really hard for our opponents’, Hildmann noted. But the goal did not land, and Elversberg continued upping the pressure.

The visiting team then ultimately scored the well-earned equaliser in the final stages of the match. Robin Fellhauer mustered up his courage and scooped the ball into the right-hand corner with a fantastic distance shot. ‘A goal so close to the end is of course very painful’, Münster player Yassine Bouchama admitted with disappointment after the game. Goalkeeper Schenk, who had previously put in an almost faultless performance, was powerless to save the goal.

The Münster defence, who thus far had stood strong, ultimately buckled in the face of attacking pressure. ‘We defended cohesively as a team, just as we planned to do before the game. Every single player threw themselves into the shots. And all against what I would describe as a brutally strong opponent’, as Münster midfielder Rico Preißinger praised his team’s defending. However, an equaliser so close to the final whistle was a bitter moment. Joshua Mees, who scored the goal that put them in the lead, self-critically said: ‘We did not relieve the pressure enough in the second half, our play was not clever enough. The balls stopped hitting home, we were not able to relieve the pressure. And then, for them to equalise so near to the end was hugely annoying. But to be fair, you could also say that Elversberg really played things right today.’

Ultimately, the away team absolutely earned the 1:1 score.

Sascha Hildmann

For SV Elversberg, the late equaliser was a reward for their tireless efforts in the second half. ‘Given our ball possession, you might say that we deserved more. But it could also have been Münster up 2:0. And if it had reached 2:0, we most likely would not have been taking a point home’, was coach Horst Steffen’s realistic summary. Despite missing out on the win, he was satisfied with his team’s performance.

The draw was annoying for the home team, but ultimately fair. ‘Ultimately, the away team absolutely earned the 1:1 score’, Hildmann also admitted. ‘Despite the setback so close to the end, our boys put their hearts and souls into the game, pushing through until they were ready to drop. And that was clear today.’ Missing out on the win was particularly painful for Münster as it would have been their first home victory of the season. ‘We absolutely wanted to keep the score at 1:0. At times, our defence really was very good. And then you managed 1:1, which is also entirely fair’, Hildmann continued.

Both teams now need to focus on their upcoming matches. On Saturday, Preußen Münster are playing away against Eintracht Braunschweig, one day after SV Elversberg are hosting Hamburger SV. Against another top name, SV Elversberg will once again be seeking to remain unbeaten.