SC Verl captain Mael Corboz was the talk of the weekend as he led his team from a 2-0 deficit against MSV Duisburg to a come-from-behind win with a pair of goals. However, he believes the team can do better as they challenge for promotion from Germany’s 3. Liga.
Verl was left reeling after being hit with two goals in the span of 13 minutes. However, they started the comeback just before the end of the first half, with the American midfielder playing a role in the goal. Yari Otto had passed the ball to him as he was locked and loaded to have a crack at Duisburg’s goal.
Corboz took the shot, but it was inadvertently deflected by his teammate Lars Lokotsch’s foot as it hit the back of the net.
Many reports have credited Corboz for the goal, but the captain has come out to credit Lokotsch for the goal.
“I’m 100 percent sure it was Lars’s turn, so it’s his goal,” he told MagentaSport (via Kicker) after the game.
The University of Maryland alum’s night was not done though as he led the way for the come-back win.
He scored his first goal in the 56th minute to level the score and followed that with the dramatic game-winner in stoppage time to ensure Verl left the Schauinsland Reisen Arena with all three points.
Despite the win, Corboz said afterward that they could have put up more of a challenge earlier in the game which would have prevented them from falling behind.
“I have to say, Duisburg didn’t offer much at the beginning, but was lethal on the counterattack. We were a little too slow in possession and didn’t get in very well. It was probably one of our worst games since the beginning of the season, but sometimes you have to win over the fight,” he said.
However, Corboz and Verl were able to come away with the win despite his assessment of their performance.
“It’s unusual that we played like that. We hit a lot of long balls, we actually had the space to play Duisburg but we were a bit unsure and had problems with the pitch,” he said. “You have to be realistic. We said we just wanted to play for a long time in the last five minutes. I hate that sort of thing, but sometimes you have to do it and this time it worked.”
Corboz will hope Verl shows an improved performance this Saturday when they take on Borussia Dortmund II.
