Hansa Rostock fights back from two-goal deficits twice to draw 3:3 with Waldhof Mannheim
Hansa Rostock twice trailed by two goals in their first home match of the 3. Liga season but fought back to draw 3:3 with SV Waldhof Mannheim, who missed a chance to make it two wins from two.
Match overview
Hansa Rostock opened their home campaign in the 3. Liga with a 3:3 draw against SV Waldhof Mannheim, salvaging a point after twice trailing by two goals. The visitors, who beat relegated Fortuna Düsseldorf 2:1 on the opening weekend, missed the chance to start the season with back-to-back wins. Rostock arrived on the back of a 3:2 win at TSG Hoffenheim II and now sit on four points after two matchdays, the same tally they had at this stage a year ago. Coach Daniel Brinkmann's side showed resilience, but defensive frailty on the left flank proved costly.
Mannheim's early dominance
The plan for Rostock was to carry momentum from their opening-day win at Hoffenheim II. Instead, they fell behind in the seventh minute when makeshift left-back Maximilian Krauß, an offensive player filling in on the left side of defence, gave Jid Okeke too much time and space to deliver a cross into the box. Krauß had clasped his hands behind his back to avoid an illegal handball but allowed Okeke the freedom to pick out his target. Julian Ulbricht rose highest and headed in from a central position. ZEIT lists the goal in the sixth minute. It was the same Okeke-to-Ulbricht combination that had produced a goal against Düsseldorf the previous week.
Ulbricht, a Hamburg native, stood in front of the Hansa fan curve with his hands cupped to his ears, drawing whistles and abuse from the home supporters. Referee Felix Weller of Siegen issued a warning. Rostock struggled to respond. Lennemann missed a clear chance in the 27th minute, denied by Mannheim goalkeeper Jan Niemann. Moments later, Andreas Voglsammer, the double scorer from Rostock's opening match, made it too easy for visiting pro Maximilian Thalhammer, and Jonas Dirkner was also too hesitant. Thalhammer set up Julian Rieckmann, who made it 2:0 in the 29th minute. Voglsammer atoned with a long-range strike in first-half stoppage time, narrowing the deficit to 2:1 at the break.
Second-half collapse and recovery
Kushtrim Asallari's fine pass released Lovis Bierschenk just after the restart, and the 21-year-old beat Rostock keeper Luca Unbehaun to restore Mannheim's two-goal cushion at 3:1 in the 50th minute. Rostock were not shaken. Lennemann scored from close range five minutes later to make it 3:2. Voglsammer then struck the crossbar with a free kick in the 60th minute before Florian Carstens, a former FC St. Pauli professional, headed in from a corner in the 76th minute to level the match.
- Ulbricht heads Mannheim ahead from Okeke cross (0:1)
- Rieckmann doubles Mannheim's lead from Thalhammer assist (0:2)
- Voglsammer pulls one back for Rostock with long-range strike (1:2)
- Bierschenk restores two-goal cushion from Asallari pass (1:3)
- Lennemann scores from close range (2:3)
- Carstens heads equaliser from corner (3:3)
All three Rostock goals came from set-piece situations. Hansa pushed for a winner in the closing stages but could not find a fourth, and the match ended all square.
Season context
After two matchdays, Rostock have four points, matching their tally from the same stage last season, when a 1:0 home win over Mannheim on the second matchday gave them the same total. Mannheim also have four points from a win and a draw.
