SVE fail to cause a stir against second-placed Holstein Kiel

SV Elversberg suffered a deserved loss 0:2 to Holstein Kiel, in a match with few major highlights.

Promoted second-division team SV Elversberg were unable to gain any points against Holstein Kiel in their campaign to secure early confirmation of remaining in the league for another year. The Saarland players lost 0:2 (0:1) to the second-placed team on Saturday, and remain in the mid-table with 35 points. The visitors from Kiel reinforced their promotion ambitions and temporarily increased their buffer to six points.

The Kiel players had a healthy dose of respect before the game: ‘I am particularly happy about these three points, because we had great respect for Elversberg before heading into the game.’ However, SVE were not able to build on their other performances.

‘I thought we had to defend a lot in the first half, but we also had our opportunities. And of course, the second goal we conceded straight after half-time came at the worst possible moment’, was Horst Steffen’s summary at the press conference after the game. He has no complaints about his team: ‘I would have liked us to have worked harder with a high ball, as our teamwork did not really ever break through. Apart from that, Kiel’s defence was quite simply top quality.’

Steffen has no interest in celebrating their 35-point score just yet: ‘Our points total is good and I have frequently been proud of my team. The fact that we lose more often simply comes with the territory in this division. But football is a game that needs to be taken one day at a time, and we are consistently trying to do better in our next match.’ Next weekend sees the team travelling to Braunschweig.