Rot-Weiss turned the second half around to beat Waldhof Mannheim 2:1 in the Third League on Wednesday evening. The visitors took all three points at the Karl-Benz-Stadion after Waldhof had opened the scoring through Owono Darnell Keumo in the 63rd minute.
Waldhof had been in the better position for much of the opening phase, but the visitors found their rhythm after the break. Keumo's strike put the hosts in front, and you would have thought that was enough to see out the game. It wasn't.
Janne Sietan equalised for Rot-Weiss just ten minutes later, and Semir Telalovic was the one who ended the barren spell for the away side with a goal in the 72nd minute. Both sides had their chances but neither created anything worth calling a big opportunity — the statistics don't lie, zero big chances for either team.
Waldhof made three changes around the hour mark, bringing on Julian Ulbricht and Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee along with Maximilian Thalhammer. Rot-Weiss responded with tactical adjustments of their own, introducing Jaka Cuber Potocnik and Marvin Obuz in the 65th minute. Vincent Thill was booked for the hosts in the 57th minute, while Claudio Kammerknecht went into the referee's notebook a couple of minutes later.
The numbers tell a familiar story: 50 per cent possession for both sides, five shots on target each, and a 38 per cent accuracy rate on target. Waldhof managed only one shot off target compared to Rot-Weiss's seven, which suggests the visitors were throwing everything at the game when they needed to find a lead.
Waldhof sit 12th with six games played, two wins, one draw, and three losses — seven points from the top. Rot-Weiss occupy second place with four victories, one draw, and one defeat, sitting on 13 points. The gap between them is opening up, and this result will make life awkward for the home side as the season progresses.
