3rd League: MSV Duisburg can still hope after a home win

As of: April 27, 2024 9:35 p.m

MSV Duisburg has sent a strong sign of life in the relegation battle of the 3rd league: at least for another week, the club, which is in serious danger of relegation, can still hope to stay in the league.

Thanks to a convincing performance, the “Zebras” won a 3-1 (2-0) home win against SV Sandhausen on Saturday. The match winner for MSV Duisburg was the outstanding goalkeeper Maximilian Braune.

The mood among the almost 10,789 spectators in the Duisburg Arena was initially quite tense: before the start of the game, the fans used a large banner to describe the MSV team, which was in great danger of relegation, as a “disgrace for Duisburg”. The gap to a non-relegation place was eight points before the game on matchday 35.

The starting situation for Sandhausen is completely different: Coach Jens Keller’s team is playing in the top half of the table and has recently also been eyeing the promotion relegation place.

Sandhausen misses a penalty

In the 20th minute, the MSV fans needed strong nerves: After Duisburg’s Thomas Pledl held off SVS attacker Yassin Ben Balla, referee Alexander Sather decided on a penalty kick. But the 20-year-old MSV goalkeeper Braune saved Alexander Mühling’s penalty. Sandhäuser also placed the follow-up shot, free-standing and unchallenged, next to the goal.

Duisburg’s Esswein converts a penalty

After that, the “Zebras” went on the offensive a little more. And in the 28th minute there was a hand penalty for the hosts. A cross from Duisburg’s Ahmet Engin flew into the hand of SVS defender Edvinas Girdvainis. Alexander Esswein safely converted the penalty for MSV interim coach Uwe Schubert’s team (29th).

MSV Duisburg separates from coach Schommers Pfeil right

Duisburg’s goal celebration had only died down for three minutes when the “Zebras” made it 2-0: Benjamin Girth got the ball on the edge of the penalty area and the 32-year-old striker hit the visitors’ goal with a shot from the turn . Now the mood among the Duisburg fans was much better.

Shortly before the end of the first half, MSV goalkeeper Braune preserved his team’s two-goal lead with a fist save (44th).

Sandhausen is pressing more and more

After the half-time break, Sandhausen increased the pressure: just 16 seconds into the second half, Sandhausen’s Tim Maciejewski was free in front of the Duisburg goal, and Braune prevented the goal with another strong save.

35th matchday arrow right

After a bad pass from Duisburg’s Esswein during the build-up to the game, Braune had to make another desperate save shortly afterwards, and Tobias Fleckstein cleared the follow-up shot on the line (55′). Two minutes later, Braune parried a low shot from David Otto.

Sandhausen scores through Maciejewski

In the 73rd minute, the outstanding goalkeeper Braune was defeated: with a well-considered pass, Sandhausen’s Mühling found his teammate Maciejewski, who shot the ball from a good ten meters into the far corner of the MSV goal.

Bitter heads the 3-1 for Duisburg

But the Duisburg team didn’t isolate themselves afterwards and continued to play forward. And in the 82nd minute they were rewarded: MSV defender Joshua Bitter headed a free kick cross into the goal to make it 3-1.

It stayed that way until the final whistle. With the home win, the “Zebras” initially reduced the gap to the non-relegation places to five points, while their competitor Waldhof Mannheim later increased the gap to six points with a draw at SC Verl. Duisburg can still get nine points in the remaining three games, but stay in the league is no longer in their own hands.

SC Verl scores against Mannheim Pfeil right

VfB Lübeck is Duisburg’s next opponent

The Duisburg team continues on Friday evening with the duel against VfB Lübeck, who have already been relegated. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.