Waldhof Mannheim hosted VfL Verl at the Karl-Benz-Stadion on Saturday. The match formed part of the 3. Liga Regular Season round four. Verl secured a 1-0 victory away from home.
The decisive moment came just before the interval. Tim Heike scored for the visitors in the 44th minute. And here's the thing, it was a clinical finish that changed the complexion of the game. The hosts had pressed earlier but failed to break the line.
Waldhof controlled the tempo with 57 percent possession. They registered six shots on target compared to Verl's two. To be fair, the visitors were disciplined in defence. They blocked one shot and limited their chances to two on target.
D discipline was tested throughout the contest. Andre Leipold received a yellow card in the 12th minute. Janne Berner and Lukas Klünter were cautioned shortly after. Mika Clausen and Nick Seidel also went into the referee's book.
Substitutions were made to shift the momentum. Verl brought on Amin Farouk in the 79th minute. Waldhof tried to find an equaliser with fresh legs, bringing on Julian Rieckmann and Joey Muller. By then, the visitors were holding the tie in their own hands.
The result leaves both sides near the bottom of the table. Waldhof sit in 15th place with four points from four games. Verl remain in 19th position on three points. It is a narrow gap in a league where every point counts.