Setback for Halle in the fight against relegation: 2:3 in Verl
Halle FC suffered a setback in their fight to stay in the league. Coach Sreto Ristic's charges lost their game at SC Verl on Saturday 2:3 (2:3) despite taking the lead. Dominic Baumann had put the Red & Whites ahead after just four minutes. However, the hosts turned the deficit into a 3:1 through Nicolas Sessa (17th penalty), Torge Paetow (26th) and Oliver Batista Meier (43rd). Enrique Lofolomo scored the equalizer in first-half stoppage time. The eighth defeat of the season threatens to plunge Halle into the relegation zone.
The visitors started strongly. After a cross from Lofolomo, Baumann converted Halle's first chance to score his tenth goal of the season. Verler then put HFC under massive pressure. Halle keeper Moritz Schulze reacted superbly to Maximilian Wolfram's header (14'), but was powerless to save Sessa's penalty. After Marl Corboz (19) hit the post, Paetow (26) put the home side in front. The visitors then stepped up their attacking efforts, but conceded the third goal through Batista Meier. Lofolomo kept the visitors' hopes of a point alive with his header to make it 3:2.
Halle continued to set the tone after the break. Baumann (59') narrowly missed the target with his header. Verl goalkeeper Luca Unbehaun saved Tunay Deniz's shot (63') with great difficulty. Two minutes later, Deniz's free-kick hit the inside of the post. However, Verl remained dangerous at all times. Corboz (78) also hit the post. Fabio Gruber (83') failed to score against HFC keeper Schulze, who reacted brilliantly. Five minutes before the final whistle, Sebastian Zielenecki missed the last chance to equalize. His header just missed the opponent's box by inches.
Despite the strong start in Verl, Halle's third-league struggles continue as they lose 3-2, with their deficit becoming a lead for the hosts. Despite Dominic Baumann's early goal in the 3rd league match, scores from Nicolas Sessa, Torge Paetow, and Oliver Batista Meier gave Verl a 3-1 advantage. Enrique Lofolomo's goal in the first half brought Halle back to 3-2, but a missed chance by Sebastian Zielenecki near the end of the game means Halle's fate in the 3rd league relegation battle remains uncertain, with their Hall stadium potentially hosting another tense soccer match.
Source: www.dpa.com
