Rieseze played host to Hochstadt Alligators in the Oberliga South on Sunday, and the visitors ran out 4-1 winners. The result leaves both sides level on zero points after seven games, though the away side now sits above their hosts on goal difference.
By then, the match had settled into something Rieseze would rather forget. The home side had looked competitive at times, but the visitors took control when it mattered. To be fair, the scoreline was never in doubt once Hochstadt found their rhythm.
Rieseze had started brightly enough, but they lost their man at a crucial moment and paid for it. The visitors made no mistake, and soon they were 2-0 up. The home side pulled one back before half-time, but that was about as far as they got.
Hochstadt doubled their lead early in the second period, and Rieseze switched off at the back. They lost their lead again, and the game was effectively over. The visitors added a fourth to seal the points and make a statement.
Our prediction had backed the home side at 47 per cent confidence, but the match went another way. What shifted it was Rieseze's inability to hold their shape when the visitors pressed. They looked vulnerable in transition, and Hochstadt punished them.
Both teams remain winless, but the gap between them has grown. Rieseze drop further behind, while Hochstadt know they can compete with anyone if they keep this form. The old head settled them down, and now they are looking up.
