Alexander Bernhardsson (left) scored Kiel’s third goal
The third day of our KSV summer training camp began with a morning session on the training pitch, during which mainly standard situations were practiced. In the afternoon, our Storks then played their first test on US soil – dressed in the new home jerseys for the upcoming season in the 2. Bundesliga. With an outside temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and intense sunshine, the boys of KSV head coach Marcel Rapp not only had to deal with motivated opponents, but also with extreme weather conditions. Nevertheless, the first test got off to a lively start: After just five minutes, new signing Robert Wagner scored his first goal in the KSV colours when the ball landed on Wagner’s foot after a cross from Marcus Müller and Wagner scored the 1:0 while falling down. At the other end, the defense around Ivan Nekić, who was back on the pitch in competitive conditions for the first time since February after recovering from a muscle injury, was challenged as the Americans started at high speed. Young goalkeeper Lio Rothenhagen made a strong save on his debut for the KSV professionals in the 14th minute, but was powerless a little later. The young goalkeeper first made an outstanding save in a one-on-one duel, but Sang-bin Jeong’s follow-up shot ended up in the Kiel goal (17′). Shortly afterwards, the game was interrupted for a water break. Then, in the 34th minute of the match, the co-production of a returnee and a new signing happened: Niklas Niehoff’s fine free-kick found the head of Wagner, who skillfully extended the ball into the goal to make it 2:1. This was to remain the score at the end of the first 45-minute test, as Rothenhagen was able to deflect a free-kick from 20 meters around the post shortly before the end.
Our Storks then started the second test with a completely new starting eleven. Both teams initially felt each other out before Alexander Bernhardsson won the ball high up in a promising position and took the opportunity to make it 1:0 (70′). In a comparatively uneventful second half of the double test, Kiel still had some worthwhile attacking action with a powerful long-range shot from Hamza Muqaj (86′) and a dangerous finish from Leon Parduzi (89′), but in the end the score remained 1-0.
Statistics:
Holstein 1st half: Rothenhagen – Nekić, Johansson, Geschwill – Rosenboom (40. Parduzi), Wagner, Davidsen, Gigović, Niehoff – Skrzybski, Müller.
Holstein 2nd half: Dogan – Ivezić, Zec, Cvjetinović – Porath, Knudsen, Schwab, Prasse (70. Muqaj), Parduzi – Bernhardsson (75. Köster), Harres.
Goals: 0:1 Wagner (5′), 1:1 Jeong (17′), 1:2 Wagner (34′), 1:3 Bernhardsson (70′) – Spectators: none.
