In the 2nd Bundesliga, SpVgg Greuther Fürth scored an effective goal against relegation-threatened SV Wehen Wiesbaden in a spectacular exchange of blows. Fürth won because the SVWW showed two different faces that day.
On Sunday (April 28th, 2024) the Fürth team prevailed 5:3 (3:2). Ivan Prtajin (3rd, 72nd/hand penalty) and Nikolas Agrafiotis (18th) scored the goals for the now efficient and courageous home team. But Fürth kept the upper hand thanks to Branimir Hrgota (26th, 90th + 7), Armindo Sieb (38th, 43rd) and Lukas Petkov (84th).
To the live ticker: Wiesbaden – Fürth arrow right 31st matchday arrow right
Wiesbaden coach Markus Kauczinski later summarized the situation at the Sportschau microphone: “We started really well. Then we get nervous, then we find our way back in – a reflection of the season that we had ups and downs.” Fürth’s coach Alexander Zorniger said: “It was perhaps the most offensive line-up we have had on the pitch so far. But it was at least worth it for the spectators.”
The defeat leaves Wiesbaden with 32 points and slips to 16th place in the relegation relegation zone. Hansa Rostock (31) lurks behind them, while Kaiserslautern is in 15th place with 33 points. As ninth in the table, Fürth no longer has anything to do with the relegation battle.
Two shots on goal, two goals: Wiesbaden efficient
It was a furious start. SV Wehen Wiesbaden was present, alert in the duels – and had luck on their side. John Iredale fed Prtajin, the striker stayed cool in front of Fürth goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and took the lead.
Wiesbaden worked with concentration at the back and remained ice cold at the front. Because with the second shot on goal, Agrafiotis put the scoreboard at 2-0. This was preceded by an adventurous bad pass from goalkeeper Urbig into the feet of the Dutchman.
Stefan Kiske, Sportschau, April 28, 2024 3:47 p.m
Srbeny with three assists: Fürth’s offense is running hot
However, the 25 minutes in which almost everything worked at Wiesbaden were over. That’s what Fürth came for. SVWW goalkeeper Florian Stritzel deflected a Hrgota shot aside, but Denis Srbeny put the ball into the danger zone again. And Hrgota scored through Stritzel’s legs to make it 1-2.
Sven Litzenberg, Sportschau, April 28, 2024 3:41 p.m
The guests now shone in a playful manner. Srbeny assisted again, this time setting up Sieb, who finished well under pressure and equalized. 2:2. Wiesbaden acted unsettled. And Sieb scored a brace just a few minutes later, turning the game around – Srbeny had hung up again.
A curious side note from the first half, which also explained the six minutes of injury time: the game was interrupted for about five minutes due to a large hole in the grass. Referee Pascal Ittrich personally plugged the hole with a pitchfork and fresh earth.
Fürth survives Wiesbaden’s pressure phase
At Wiesbaden, their heads hung after falling behind. The SVWW had hardly any ideas and let the game be snatched away from them. But the home team almost used the long injury time to equalize. Martin Angha and Prtajin missed a double chance from a corner. Fürth’s Simon Asta and goalkeeper Urbig saved in dire need on the line (45th + 4). The score went into halftime with a score of 3-2 for the guests.
Stefan Kiske, Sportschau, April 28, 2024 4:04 p.m
But Wiesbaden continued the final spurt from the first half after the restart. Because the SVWW came out of the dressing room with new courage – and a new system, because coach Markus Kauczinski now played with a three-man chain in order to have one more man in the midfield. The SpVgg was kept busy. Urbig had to prevent the equalizer twice with strong saves (51st, 52nd).
Two penalties: Hrgota makes a mistake, Prtajin scores
After that, two penalty situations dominated the game. First, Aleksandar Vukotic brought Fürth’s Asta off his feet. Hrgota stepped up to put the lid on it – but the captain sent the ball clear over the goal (67′). On the other side, Oualid Mhamdi caused a hand penalty. Prtajin didn’t miss the opportunity to equalize – 3:3.
In the final phase, Wiesbaden worked hard, Fürth hardly had any offensive activity. Actually – because the Middle Franconians took advantage of a chain of errors in the Wiesbaden defense thanks to von Petkov for the “lucky punch” to make it 4:3. And Hrgota even made it 5:3 very late with a great individual move.
SVWW welcomes top club Kiel, Fürth against Braunschweig
Wiesbaden, which is threatened with relegation, will play against league leaders Holstein Kiel on matchday 32 (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.). Greuther Fürth welcomes Eintracht from Braunschweig, who are also under pressure (Saturday, 1 p.m.).