Lions savage Sandhausen in one-sided affair
1860 Munich's comprehensive 4-0 win against SV Sandhausen marked the culmination of an excellent week for Moritz Stoppelkamp, the player scoring his second goal in as many games after reclaiming his place in the starting eleven in the midweek victory at FC Ingolstadt 04.
Stoppelkamp had hinted at some dissatisfaction at losing his place in the side in the first place due more, according to Coach Reiner Maurer, to tactical naivety than any issue over performance.
His comments certainly raised tensions within the camp "He's young and he will learn" said Sporting Director Florian Hinterberger ominously, yet the player's inclusion in the starting eleven today suggested that perhaps the player had made his point.
It will be harder still to justify leaving him out of the side now after his goal in the 20th minute, an impressive Daniel Halfar the architect as his cross was dinked into the near post for Stoppelkamp to nod home easily.
This was the first time ever that these two sides had faced each other, an experience SV won't be in a hurry to repeat as 1860 pressed from the off, pushing up the pitch in a bid to stifle the visitors who struggled to find a pass early on.
The approach almost paid dividends as early as the second minute with Benjamin Lauth being put clean through on goal but blasting well wide after SV build up play broke down just outside their own box.
In spite of their patient play 1860's opening goal came from some quality incisive passing, Daniel Halfar receiving a quick throw in an advanced position on the left wing, before cutting inside the napping SV defence to flick home a deft finish off the far post.
On the rare occasions that the Lions allowed them the ball Sandhausen were unashamedly direct and their performance littered with errors which were to cost them again in the 25th minute.
Daniel Schulz missed a regulation headed clearance after a cross from the lively Halfar to let in Daniel Bierofka, the former German international taking a touch before smashing home a powerful finish.
1860 went into the half 3-0 up and cruising against a Sandhausen outfit that looked outclassed and bereft of ideas. They continued where they had left off after the restart, Lauth converting a one on one chance to notch a fourth before many in the crowd had even retaken their seats.
Kingsley Onuegby, subbed on at half time by Sandhausen added physicality to what had hitherto been a toothless attack but it was too little too late in a match the Lions dominated from start to finish.
A second comfortable win in four days for the unbeaten Lions, moving them up to the dizzying heights of third spot in the Bundesliga 2nd division.