SV Elversberg start their home season with a fair draw 

In their first home game of the season, SV Elversberg achieved a 2:2 draw against 1. FC Köln. A little composure could have offered even more. 

In a sold-out URSAPHARM arena, 1. FC Köln prevented a complete false start and managed a late but well-earned equaliser thanks to Timo Hüber in the 86th minute. The Cologne team had initially taken the lead in the first half, but Horst Steffen’s half-time changes had an effect: both jokers scored – Fisnik Asllani to make things 1:1 and Frederic Schmahl to bring the scoreline to 2:1. ‘At times during the second half, we lost the focus that had set us apart during the first half’, Köln’s coach Gerhard Struber explained to Sportschau after the match. ‘You can see how quickly you can fall behind in this league.’ Elversberg’s goal scorer Asllani said: ‘We established a much better foothold in the game in the second half. I would say that the goal came at a very good time. Ultimately we lacked composure, but we will need to work on that.’ 

Ultimately we lacked composure, but we will need to work on that. 

The mood in the URSAPHARM arena was particularly special, and SVE could have sold far more than the 10,000 tickets available – the stadium is still undergoing renovations. All of the fans present were holding their breath in the final minutes:

Köln increased the pressure, and even had an opportunity to clinch the game in the 91st minute following another corner. However, SVE’s goalkeeper Kristof was on hand again to prevent the visitors from earning a ‘lucky punch’ thanks to a brilliant save, pushing Luca Waldschmidt’s header over the crossbar with his fingertips. As in Magdeburg, Kristof was once again SVE‘s top player.

Ultimately, the scoreline remained a 2:2 draw – meaning that SVE now have two points to their name. The next opportunity to rack up more points will be on 23 August, against Karlsruhe. Before that, they have a DFB cup match against VfV 06 Hildesheim on 18 August.