Rostock came from behind to beat Erfurt 3:2 in the Oberliga North on 20th September. The visitors took all three points after a first game that turned on its head. And here's the thing — we had backed the hosts at 44 per cent confidence. The prediction didn't come off. Rostock simply refused to sit deep and soak it up.
Both sides entered the match with one game under their belts and zero points on the board, which tells you the table was still blank canvas. Erfurt had opened with a 2:6 hammering from Halle, while Rostock started with a 4:1 victory over Hannover. By then, you could see the difference in temperament. The visitors had the momentum, the hosts were looking for answers.
There's a memory from February 22nd when these two met — Erfurt won 4:3 at home. Rostock came back with something to prove, and they didn't travel to make up the numbers. Three goals in one game suggests they switched off at a set piece or two, but you don't need a video analysis to see the pattern. They went forward.
Erfurt's recent form reads like a scattergun display — 6:4 against Herner, 8:7 versus Eisbären, 4:3 over Rostock in that earlier encounter. High-scoring affairs where the defence is an afterthought. Rostock's games have been tighter: 5:4 against Katowice, 3:4 at Leipzig. They concede, but they're also finding the net.
The result puts Rostock on top of the table, even if the gap is still theoretical. Erfurt drop to 10th place, which is a long way from anywhere meaningful this early. The goal difference tells the story — three goals gained, two lost for the visitors, and the hosts have taken a beating on both ends. Rostock have kept their head up after that opening win.
