SV Wehen vs FC 08 Homburg

Agrafiotis's 44th-minute goal was the match's only moment of incision. Coming against the run of Homburg's early pressure, it rewarded SVWW's growing dominance before the break and gave Scherning's side a lead they never looked like relinquishing. Homburg's failure to convert a decent Guthörl header seconds later summed up their afternoon in front of goal.

Nikolas Agrafiotis (SVWW) — The match-winner with a composed finish into the far corner in first-half stoppage time. Had a quiet second half but his first-half contribution decided the game.

Michael Gelt (Homburg) — Made two sharp saves in quick succession during SVWW's best first-half spell that kept his side level until the 44th minute. Could do little about the goal.

Michael Guthörl (Homburg) — The liveliest attacking threat on the pitch. Went close with an early scissor kick and a header just before the break, but lacked the final touch to convert.

Vincent Brdar (SVWW) — Untroubled for long spells but commanded his box well when called upon during Homburg's early pressure.

SVWW coach Daniel Scherning acknowledged his side's physical showing but was critical of their work on the ball: "With the ball I was not satisfied. We had too little activity in our game." He added that his team "could have scored five goals, but only scored one." Homburg, by contrast, had the better of possession in the first half — per Scherning's assessment — "but in areas that weren't dangerous." The xG figures (not published) would likely reflect a narrow contest: SVWW created more clear chances but Homburg matched them territorially for long stretches.

SVWW made it two wins from two pre-season friendlies after their 20-1 demolition of TuS Medenbach on 5 July. The step up in opposition provided a sterner test and exposed the attacking fluency Scherning wants to improve. The Drittliga side depart for a training camp in Fügen, Austria on Saturday (11 July), where they face Japanese side Fagiano Okayama (14 July) and FC Liefering (18 July).

Homburg have now lost both of their opening friendlies — 1-2 to Karlsruher SC II and 0-1 to SVWW — with a threadbare squad. Five first-team players were unavailable including long-term absentees Nico Jörg and Lukas Hoffmann, and the club continues to field trialists (Leon Bucher and Jan Erik Eichhorn) and youth players from U23 and U19 levels. They next face SV Darmstadt 98 on 14 July.

A workmanlike friendly win for SVWW, decided by one moment of quality from Agrafiotis. Scherning's honest assessment of his side's ball-playing limitations is a fair takeaway: the physical foundation is strong, but the creativity in possession needs sharpening before the 3. Liga season begins. For Homburg, the result was respectable given the makeshift squad and back-to-back fixtures, but questions over squad depth persist.