Calm and efficient: Ahrweiler BC maintains top spot in the table
Sometimes the inconspicuous victories are the most valuable. After an intensive English week, Ahrweiler BC completed their latest triple-header on Sunday with a businesslike but controlled 2:0 victory over SV Laubach in every phase. It was the ninth win in eleven games - and one that keeps Mike Wunderlich and Kevin Pires Rodrigues' side top of the Rhineland League table, level on points with SV Rot-Weiß Wittlich.
The starting position was clear: the favorites from the district town were up against an opponent that had so far fallen short of their own expectations. However, the personnel situation in the Ahrweiler defensive unit was tense - four players were missing due to injury, suspension or for personal reasons. These gaps were filled by 19-year-old Jonas Sola Vicente (symbolic photo) with remarkable composure. "Jonas showed that we can rely on him at all times," praised head coach Wunderlich.
What followed was a lesson in patience and stability. ABC controlled the ball and space, hardly conceded anything defensively and waited until the spaces opened up. When the game was still goalless after an hour, the team stuck to its plan - and was rewarded. Goal scorer Almir Porca struck twice, both times after fine preparatory work from Ümit Kuzu (54') and Thomas Idel (66').
Even in the final phase, when the strain of the last few days became apparent, ABC seemed closer to a third goal than a setback. "The victory was never in danger at any time - a mature performance after an exhausting week," summarized Wunderlich.
With the same calmness with which this game was decided, the focus now turns to the future: to the away game at TuS Kirchberg, the next touchstone for a promotion candidate who has learned to measure its strength.