Elversberg's joy of playing with a learning effect: "In the end, it's okay"
Elversberg thrills, wobbles—and stays in the race: In the first leg of the relegation playoff against Heidenheim, the second-division team shows enthusiasm, courage, and potential for learning. Coach Horst Steffen praises his team—and takes his goalkeeper's mistake in stride.
Is satisfied with the starting position: Elversberg coach Horst Steffen. picture alliance/dpa
By the end of the first half, the game was going well – at least to the Saarlanders' liking. Elversberg was two goals ahead of Bundesliga side Heidenheim, thanks to goals from Lukas Petkov and Fisnik Asllani .
"It was an up-and-down affair. We showed that we can hold our own here," said goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof after the first leg of the relegation playoff in the Ostalb region. Indeed, Elversberg gleefully combined and blasted through Heidenheim's defense and was ice-cold to boot. In other words, an opponent no one wants to face.
Kristof: "I have to take responsibility for the free kick""There was no boredom here. That's how it should be when we play," said coach Horst Steffen on the Sky microphone, summing up the highly entertaining duel. The only drawback: "We'd prefer to win." That didn't happen on Thursday evening, despite the comfortable halftime lead and the confident performance in the first half.
After Muhammed Damar's header to make it 3-0 (48th minute), Heidenheim had the only clear chances and deservedly fought their way back into the game – partly due to a goalkeeping error by Kristof. "I have to take responsibility for the free kick," admitted the 25-year-old. He saw Leonardo Scienza's free kick "relatively late" and could only "let it bounce forward."
When asked whether Steffen also perceived the goal as a goalkeeping error, the coach simply replied with a smile: "If Nicolas says so, he's right." That, too, is what defines SV Elversberg. They don't beat around the bush; mistakes are addressed and forgotten – at least, that's the perception. "They're part of the game; I don't want to blame anyone."
And even though the Saarlanders conceded the goal that made it 2-2 shortly after the 1-2 , Steffen is satisfied with the situation. "In the end, it's okay. We wanted to create a situation to stay in the race. We succeeded, so we're happy to take it."
Everything is still up for grabs for the return match next Monday – and Elversberg's third promotion in four years is by no means an unrealistic scenario. Perhaps even with a bargaining chip for the second division team: "The boys aren't getting nervous, which is an advantage."
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