SG Wattenscheid 09 is the new leader of the Oberliga Westfalen after a 2-1 victory over TSG Sprockhövel.
The Oberliga Westfalen has a new league leader! For the first time this season, SG Wattenscheid 09 is at the top of the table thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over TSG Sprockhövel. On paper, it was “only” a promoted team visiting the Lohrheidestadion. However, this task turned out to be a tough nut to crack for “Nullneun.”
The visitors played with two deep defensive lines, defended with all their might, and often thwarted Wattenscheid’s attempts to attack. It was a difficult task for SGW head coach Christopher Pache’s team: “We struggled in the first half. We couldn’t find a way to get behind the defense. We lacked the ability to play without the ball. Because Sprockhövel defended with brutal discipline, very little space opened up for us. We always had to look for new solutions and create a lot of movement.”
Mike Lewicki broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. The number six redeemed SGW with a deflected shot that rolled unstoppably over the line to give them a 1-0 lead. However, this did not last long: Fatih Öztürk equalized with a 1-1 goal in what was virtually a direct counterattack (44th minute). Just before halftime, of all times – a bitter pill for Wattenscheid. In the locker room, Coach Pache demanded that his team mirror the physicality of the visitors and not just try to win through skillful play, as he revealed: “It’s not always about dying beautifully. The key was to accept the opponent’s game. To be more agile in the aerial duels and offer support in every single position.”
As requested, so delivered: “Nullneun” increased their presence after the break. Pache also proved once again that he has the Midas touch with the substitution of super-sub Robert Nnaji. The striker forced Sprockhövel into an own goal with a perfect cross into the five-meter box (67′). Pache: “That’s individual class. A brutal run, immediately moving into the depth. If they hadn’t scored themselves, Schacht would have been there at the far post.”
After the Wattenscheid team defused several counterattacks in the final stages and finally held on to their narrow 2-1 lead, they were celebrated as the new leaders in front of 1,509 spectators. “That was a brutal game, but we actually managed to pull through again. Sprockhövel hadn’t lost an away game before. So I’m proud of the guys. Now we’re rightly at the top of the table,” Pache summed up.
From the perspective of TSG coach Andrius Balaika, his team wasn’t far off from earning a point: “When you lose a game with two own goals, it’s extremely bitter. We were solid defensively in the first half, but I would have liked to see us be more present in the challenges. In the second half, we lacked the decisive ten percent to score.”
Before this opportunity arises again, Sprockhövel will first compete in the Westphalia Cup away at VfB Schwelm for a place in the next round (October 15, 7:30 p.m.). SG Wattenscheid 09 will be pursuing the same goal the following day against SV Westfalia Rhynern (7:30 p.m., RS live ticker).