Unbeaten Streak Continues for Saarbrücken as They Cruise Past Freiburg II
Three days after their stunning cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0), third-division side 1. FC Saarbrücken extended their impressive form, dismantling struggling Freiburg II 4-0. The result saw Saarbrücken notch up their seventh clean sheet in a row across competitions, a remarkable streak that spans five league matches, a Saarland Cup tie, and a DFB Cup outing.
The solid defensive unit has been the backbone of Saarbrücken's success, last conceding a goal back on November 11, in a game against 1860 Munich, a full 638 minutes ago. This unyielding shield at the back has laid the foundation for their victories, with all the goals coming at the right end.
The tireless Marcel Gaus, the team's left-back, said, "This defensive stability sets us apart at the moment, and if we capitalize on our chances, the scoresheet reflects it."
Saarbrücken's coach, Rüdiger Ziehl, was pleased with his side's defensive performance: "We defended exceptionally well again, and it's fantastic to finish the week with a clear-cut victory after the high-point last Wednesday."
Kasim Rabihic, the double goal-scorer from the Frankfurter cup victory, reflected on the team's determination against the bottom-of-the-table Freiburg: "After the cup sensation against Frankfurt, we resolved to give it our all against the last-placed team as well. The expectations are high, and it's great to have delivered in style."
However, the celebrations were slightly dampened by an injury to skipper Manuel Zeitz. In the 40th minute, Zeitz suffered a double-header collision, first with Freiburg's Fahrner, and later after a clash with his teammate and goalkeeper Tim Schreiber. Despite the heavy bleeding, Zeitz returned to the game wearing a turban after a five-minute treatment break, eventually departing the field shortly after Schreiber's collision.
The upcoming clash against leaders Regensburg promises to provide a stern test for Saarbrücken's resilient defense. Regensburg will be visiting Ludwigspark next Saturday, and they will need to maintain their authoritative display at the back if they hope to secure a positive result.
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When searching for more information about captain Manuel Zeitz's injury, we discovered that he had undergone a successful operation on his head the following day, according to a report from the country of his origin, Tunisia. Zeitz missed the vital league clash against Regensburg but returned to action in the 3-2 defeat to Darmstadt ninety-nine days later.
Despite the initial concern, the incident did not prove to be a significant setback for Zeitz or 1. FC Saarbrücken in their pursuit of promotion. The team managed to maintain their impressive form, eventually securing promotion to the second division at the end of the season. The subsequent season saw them consolidate their position regarding second-division status, finishing just outside the promotion mix.
Captain Zeitz went on to play for the club for another three seasons, contributing to their continued success in the second division before moving on to new challenges in January 2022. The talented midfielder has since turned out for several clubs, most recently signing for third-tier side FC Suhl in the summer of 2022.
