DWataru Endo’s stoppage-time goal, ecstatic cheers as the fans flooded the arena’s lawn. Before the game on Sunday evening against Union Berlin, the Stuttgart stadium management played back the pictures of VfB’s last win in the Bundesliga shortly before kick-off, with which the club was able to celebrate remaining in the league.
The memories of the last triple point win are slowly fading because Stuttgart have to wait for their first success of the season. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team also lost against the leaders of the table 0-1 (0-0) to a header from Paul Jaeckel (76th) and slipped into a relegation zone.
The spectators were so disappointed that they said goodbye to the players with loud whistles. “Your frustration is justified,” said VfB sporting director Sven Mislintat afterwards, “we don’t like the situation either.” For a long time, the Stuttgarters were the more courageous team, with the better chances to score. But in the end it’s the goals that count. And because they don’t come, the VfB coach will face uncomfortable weeks.
The American had tried everything to prepare his players as best as possible. The training week was dedicated to boxing. Matarazzo wanted to see more power and physicality from his players. To further illustrate this, one of his assistant coaches once even held a punching bag while the players were doing passing drills.
The special measures initially had their effect. Stuttgart were very robust in the duels against Union right from the start, disgusting and above all: they won them, so that VfB was able to create some good chances in the first half. The first was Dan-Axel Zagadou, the former Dortmunder forced Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow to do his remarkable reflex with his header (14th).
Serhou Guirassy missed the goal and ended up being sent off.
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Image: AFP
It wasn’t a nice game, not one with artful ball relays, but it was intense and VfB did what Matarazzo had asked for, they ran, they straddled, they sometimes fought so passionately that Waldemar Anton had a head bandage from the 38th minute had to. And they almost took the lead. But Rönnow also prevented Hiroki Ito’s free kick from falling behind early (25′). Serhou Guirassy also headed just wide of the goal (34′).
And the Berliners? They almost went ahead just before the break after a Jaeckel header, but VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller cleared it. In the second half it looked like it would be 0-0 for a long time, but then Jaeckel scored the goal (76th). Almost in return, VfB would have equalized. But Kostantinos Mavropanos’ shot hit the post. “It was a dirty win,” said Jaeckel.
