2-0 in the first game, happy fans, a celebrating team - on paper, Jahn Regensburg got off to a good start. But in the Darmstadt victory, the luck factor belied many grievances. Coach Selimbegovic is anything but enthusiastic.
Regensburg (dpa / lby) - Mersad Selimbegovic sat with a red face and visible worry lines after the start of the second division at the press conference. "Thank God it worked today," said SSV Jahn Regensburg coach on Saturday afternoon. Shortly before, the Upper Palatinate had won 2-0 (1-0) against SV Darmstadt 98, but did not cut a good figure over long stretches. “You need this match luck. We had that on our side today – definitely,” the 40-year-old summarized the game.
After just 16 seconds, Regensburg were ahead in their home Jahnstadion. Darmstadt could not play the ball out in a controlled manner after the kick-off, Regensburg new signing Prince Owusu defended the ball, saw Nicklas Shipnoski approaching on the outside, who served return Joshua Mees with a low cross across the penalty area in an exemplary manner - the winger only had to push in.
It took Darmstadt a quarter of an hour to get into the game. Then the guests increasingly took over the game, but without playing out top-class chances. Only Marvin Mehlem (29th) caused the first real danger after a mistake by Steve Breitkreuz. The shock for Darmstadt followed shortly afterwards: After a foul by Patric Pfeiffer (37th), the 22-year-old saw the yellow-red card early on.
But just now, when Jahn was able to play his majority, the problems arose. It's "not easy" with one man more, said Selimbegovic. His team struggled with a lack of assignment, passivity and large gaps in the transition game.
Torsten Lieberknecht switched his team to a 4-3-2 in the second half and thus ensured more and more possession - and also goal chances. But Magnus Warming (52nd), Matthias Bader (56th) and Frank Ronstadt (58th) missed.
In return, a quick action decided the game: Benedikt Saller bridged the center with a long ball, Andreas Albers (67th) beat keeper Marcel Schuhen in the second attempt and scored to make it 2-0. After that, Owusu (74th) and again Albers (76th) should have increased.
Selimbegovic could only be happy about the result, but not about the way he played. He is particularly concerned about the lack of automation in the newly assembled squad. "I hope it doesn't take too long," said the Jahn coach. If they do, it could be a difficult season for the Upper Palatinate.
