- Aue Secures Victory in the Saxony Derby, Securing a Third-Place Finish
FC Erzgebirge Aue grabbed the lead in the 3rd tier Saxony Derby, beating co-leaders Dynamo Dresden 2-0 at the jam-packed Erzgebirge Stadium. With a crowd of 14,788 in attendance, Aue's side clinched their third consecutive victory, thanks to a triumph at home.
Aue took an early lead in the 6th minute, with Mirnes Pepic finding the back of the net. Then, ex-Dynamo player Marvin Stefaniak doubled Aue's advantage just three minutes later, slotting home a cross. Dynamo's ex-captain Stefan Kutschke was given a second yellow card in the 57th minute, after he was introduced as a substitute.
Aue's goalkeeper Martin Männel had to act fast, denying a shot by Christoph Daferner just 12 seconds into the match. Dynamo pressed high and exploited Aue's errors in midfield with swift counter-attacks, but Aue scored against the run of play with Pepic's close-range effort (6.).
Seconds after that, Pepic scored again, neatly finishing off a cross from Stefaniak. Dynamo were caught off guard, and Aue capitalized with a swift counter-attack, ending with Stefaniak's goal to make it 2-0.
Dynamo had their first opportunity in the 24th minute, with a free-kick that Männel managed to save. Other than that, Dynamo struggled to create clear-cut chances, lacking the finishing touch in the final third. The game became less intense after the break, with some fireworks being set off by fans of both teams.
Aue slowed down the tempo, while Dynamo searched for ideas. Dynamo's coach Thomas Stamm made several substitutions, introducing Kutschke among other players in the 60th minute. Kutschke fouled Männel twice, resulting in his expulsion. Dynamo's only late chance came in the form of a shot that hit the crossbar.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Aue continued their dominance, playing a solid game of Soccer. Later, the ex-Dynamo player Marvin Stefaniak showcased his skills, scoring another goal in a swift Soccer attack.
