Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
SSVg Velbert overturned a 2-1 second-half deficit to thrash TSG Sprockhövel 6-2 in a pre-season friendly, scoring five times after the interval.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Velbert needed just 60 seconds to open the scoring. The visitors caught Sprockhövel cold, converting their first chance of the game inside the opening minute to take a 1-0 lead before the hosts had settled.
The early strike set the tone for a disjointed first half. Neither side found sustained rhythm, and the score remained 1-0 at the break, with Velbert's early goal the only separator.
Sprockhövel manager Andrius Balaika rang the changes at half-time, and the substitutions had an immediate impact. Eron Morina, continuing his strong pre-season form, levelled the score with a composed finish. Minutes later, Mounir Azzam marked his first goal for the club by putting Sprockhövel 2-1 ahead, briefly turning the match on its head.
But Velbert responded swiftly. The Oberliga Niederrhein side equalised almost immediately, then exploited Sprockhövel's defensive disorganisation with ruthless efficiency. Reo Yoshida made it 3-2 around the 65th minute, Kilian-Joel Wagenaar added a fourth in the 77th minute, and Harumi Goto wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute as Velbert ran away with a 6-2 victory.
The turning point
Sprockhövel's 2-1 lead lasted only a matter of minutes. Velbert's instant response — equalising before Sprockhövel could consolidate — shifted the momentum decisively. From there, the visitors' superior fitness and organisation told, as they scored four unanswered goals in the final half-hour.
Key performers
- Eron Morina (Sprockhövel): Continued his excellent pre-season form with a well-taken equaliser that sparked Sprockhövel's best spell. His movement and finishing were a bright spot in an otherwise difficult afternoon.
- Mounir Azzam (Sprockhövel): Scored his first goal for the club to put the hosts 2-1 up, a personal milestone that briefly threatened an upset.
- Reo Yoshida (Velbert): Restored Velbert's lead around the hour mark with a clinical finish, triggering the avalanche of goals that followed.
- Harumi Goto (Velbert): Capped the scoring with a 90th-minute strike, emblematic of Velbert's second-half dominance.
What it means
The defeat was a reality check for Sprockhövel, whose head coach Andrius Balaika acknowledged post-match that "there is still a lot of work ahead of us before the season starts." Defensive organisation, in particular, remains a concern after conceding six goals despite Velbert's early lead.
For Velbert, it was a first win of the 2026/27 pre-season campaign, following a 2-1 defeat to SV Bergisch Gladbach on 5 July. The Oberliga Niederrhein side showed their class in the second half, with clinical finishing and a clear physical advantage as the game wore on.
Sprockhövel face Ratinger SV on 15 July, followed by a local derby at Obersprockhövel on 18 July. Velbert continue their pre-season schedule away at SpVgg Erkenschwick on 19 July, before hosting 1. FC Wülfrath on 22 July and Fortuna Köln on 26 July.
Verdict
A pre-season friendly defined by two contrasting halves. Sprockhövel's brief second-half revival raised hopes of a comeback, but defensive fragility and Velbert's superior depth told a familiar story. For Velbert, the 6-2 scoreline offers a confidence boost after a slow start to their summer programme.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 16 Jul 2026