In the 3rd division, the basement duel between Bayreuth and SC Verl opened Sunday. The team from Verl won 3:1 (1:1).

In the 3rd division, the promoted SpVgg Bayreuth was already under some pressure against SC Verl. The aim was to gain some breathing space at the bottom of the table and not let SC Verl – also one of the candidates for the lower places – pull away. The plan failed, as the East Westphalians won 3:1 in Bayreuth.

Verl got off to the better start, which resulted in Nicolás Sessa taking the lead after 14 minutes. A cross from the left landed in the Bayreuth five-metre area. Somewhat fortunately, the ball came to Maximilian Wolfram on the half-left, who passed to Sessa in the centre. The ex-Heidenheim player tricked his opponent ten metres in front of the goal with a body trick – then he finished dryly to make it 1:0.

But the hosts were not shocked. Alexander Nollenberger equalised the 0:1 before the 30th minute. Former Essen player Felix Weber played a strong long ball from the centre circle to the left into the penalty area. Nollenberger ran through and headed into the left corner from seven metres. The score was 1-1 going into the dressing room.

After the break, Martin Thomann had a great opportunity to put Verl back in the lead. He then did better after just over an hour. After a mix-up in the home side’s penalty area, the ball landed with Wolfram, who scored from over 20 metres to give Verl the lead.

This time, the hosts did not come back, on the contrary: Verl added to their tally, Joel Grodowski scored nine minutes before the end to decide the game. The reward for Verl: It passed Rot-Weiss Essen again, among others, and the Verlers are now in ninth place. Bayreuth are at the bottom of the table with nine points.

Bayreuth’s next match is at Halleschen FC on Monday (24 October, 7 pm). SC Verl must play Erzgebirge Aue on Sunday (23 October, 2 p.m.)