2. Bundesliga
Hamburg are back in the hunt for automatic promotion after second-half goals from Sebastian Schonlau and Bakery Jatta helped the hosts to a come-from-behind win against leaders and cross-town rivals St.Pauli.
Hamburg 2-1 St. Pauli
Goals: 0-1 Burgstaller 31' (assist: Amenyido), 1-1 Schonlau 58' (assist: Kittel), 2-1 Jatta 70' (assist: Kittel)
Determined to better a Bundesliga 2 record against their rivals that had previously seen them win just once in seven second-tier games against Pauli, HSV started with immense intent at the Volksparkstadion. Faride Alidou should have done better with Ludovit Reis's inviting cut-back, the former thumping over when wonderfully placed, while Moritz Heyer spurned two chances in quick succession as the Red Shorts penned their beleaguered opponents back. Determined to make up ground on the league leaders, Hamburg continued their onslaught. Miro Muheim's deflected effort just missed Nikola Vasilj's crossbar while, not long afterwards, Jatta nodded a Sonny Kittel set-piece narrowly wide. Winless in their previous three league outings, Bundesliga 2 leaders Pauli sensed they had weathered the home storm and went in search of a lead. Die Kiezkicker had it just after the half-hour mark, Guido Burgstaller heading in Etienne Amenyido's knock back across goal to end his four-game drought.
Insisting his side were not the type of team to, "... sit back and wait and hope something comes our way," St. Pauli coach Timo Schultz sent his players out in the second half looking to add to their lead. Buoyed by his opener, Burgstaller almost outfoxed 'keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes from a tight angle. Visibly stung by this state of affairs, Die Rothosen soon responded and were level through Schonlau's header from Kittel's corner. It was to get even better for the hosts 20 minutes from time. Out of his area to start a swift attacking move, Heuer Fernandes's initiative eventually led to Jatta bearing down on goal before the powerful midfielder blasted an unstoppable effort past Vasilj from a narrowing angle. The end-to-end action continued apace and when it seemed the Braun-Weißen would level things up, Heuer Fernandes pulled off crucial saves to deny Burgstaller and Dittgen as Hamburg held on to avenge their Matchday 3 reverse against their city rivals and reduce the gap between the teams to three points.
Match stats
Line-ups
Hamburg: Heuer Fernandes - Heyer, Vuskovic, Schonlau (c), Muheim - Reis, Meffert - Jatta (Kaufmann 90'), Kittel (Kinsombi 87'), Alidou (Wintzheimer 71') - Glatzel (David 90')
Unused subs: Johansson, Gyamerah, Andresen, Krahn, Meißner
Out: Doyle (special leave), Leibold (cruciate ligament), Rohr (muscular), Suhonen (muscular), Vagnoman (torn tendon)
Coach: Tim Walter
Pauli: Vasilj - Ohlsson (Dzwigala 77'), Lawrence (c), Medic, Paqarada - Irvine (Benatelli 81'), Smith (Makienok 81'), Becker (Daschner 71') - Hartel - Amenyido (Dittgen 46'), Burgstaller
Unused subs: Smarsch, Ziereis, Beifus, Ritzka
Out: Avevor (ankle), Kyereh (Africa Cup of Nations), Wieckhoff (knee)
Coach: Timo Schultz
Matchday 20 round-up
Fortuna Düsseldorf 0-1 Nuremberg
Goals: 0-1 Tempelmann (2')
The visitors wasted no time in taking the lead, with Lino Tempelmann scoring after just two minutes to put Nuremberg ahead. Tempelmann's opener came after the 22-year-old midfielder drove to the edge of the Düsseldorf box at a back pedalling defence before letting fly a shot that took a heavy deflection over the diving - and wrong-footed - Florian Kastenmeier and into the bottom corner. The hosts were unable to find a way back into the game and Tempelmann's fourth goal of the season was enough to seal all three points for Nuremberg.
Paderborn 3-4 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Muslija (15'), 1-1 Ducksch (35'), 2-1 Ducksch (38'), 3-1 Platte (57'), 3-2 Schmid (59'), 3-3 Füllkrug (66'), 3-4 Toprak (86')
Ömer Toprak went from villain to hero in an enthralling meeting at the Benteler Arena as Werder came from 3-1 down to claim a 4-3 draw. Toprak had given away an early penalty that Florent Muslija converted with a retake after Sven Michel's initial spot-kick was saved by Jiri Pavlenka. Marvin Ducksch soon snuck home the equaliser, but Paderborn retook the lead three minutes later thanks to Muslija's superb second. After the break, Felix Platte made it 3-1 in even more sensational fashion, finding the top-corner from the edge of the halfway line's semi-circle, but it was Werder's turn for an immediate reply as Romano Schmid reduced the deficit. Füllkrug then hauled Werder level before Platte and Ducksch both had stunning efforts ruled out. Toprak would then make up for his earlier mistake by heading home with four minutes to play to move Werder into third-place.
Watch: Bremen come from behind to win seven-goal thriller at Paderborn
Ingolstadt 0-2 Darmstadt
Goals: 0-1 Skarke (15'), 0-2 Seydel (82')
Darmstadt took a 1-0 lead after just a quarter of an hour thanks to Tim Skarke's goal of the month contender. Racing into the penalty area, the 25-year-old took a first touch on his left foot that looped the ball into his path before volleying in on his right. It was a sumptuous, rocketed finish taken all in one movement and made even more satisfying for kissing the inside of the near post before hitting the back of the net. Aaron Seydel wrapped up the win with eight minutes to go, with all three points enough to send Darmstadt top of the league for the first time this season.
Hansa Rostock 0-0 Heidenheim
With Hansa sitting just outside the relegation places and Heidenheim on the periphery of the promotion spots, their meeting had potential ramifications at both ends of the table. Neither side was able to find a first-half breakthrough, though, despite the home side bossing proceedings for the majority of the opening 45 minutes. The second period followed suit, with clear cut chances few and far between, as the two teams had to settle for a goalless draw.
Erzgebirge Aue 0-5 Schalke
Goals: 0-1 Terodde (36'), 0-2 Vindheim (assist: Terodde) 38', 0-3 Latza (assist: Pieringer) 51', 0-4 Latza (assist: Vindheim) 63', 0-5 Pieringer (72')
Danny Latza scored two as Schalke climbed to fourth with a convincing 5-0 win at struggling Erzgebirge Aue. Simon Terodde scored the first after 36 minutes, turning in a rebound after Andreas Vindheim's cross was blocked. Vindheim added the second just a few minutes later with a powerful strike after being put through by Terodde. Latza's first fell five minutes into the second half, turning in Marvin Pieringer's cross, and he leapt to meet a Vindheim cross to head in his second and Schalke's fourth just after the hour mark. Pieringer then completed the scoring, turning the ball into an empty net after Aue failed to clear their lines from Vindheim's cross.
Watch: Aue 0-5 Schalke - in 60 seconds!
Hannover 0-0 Dynamo Dresden
Both teams remain neck and neck in the second division standings, a scoreless draw preventing either side from edging into the top half of the table. The hosts achieved a notable scalp in the DFB Cup midweek, sending Bundesliga team Borussia Mönchengladbach packing to advance to the quarter finals of the competition. They were kept at bay here, with visiting goalkeeper Kevin Broll denying Maximilian Beier and Cedric Teuchert with solid stops. Dynamo's cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of Michael Akoto for a second bookable offence before the end, but the visitors stayed the course and held out for a draw.
Jahn Regensburg 1-2 Holstein Kiel
Goals: 1-0 Kennedy 12' (assist: Breitkreuz), 1-1 Korb 35', 1-2 Mühling (pen) 59'
Regensburg's hopes of getting back into the 2. Bundesliga promotion mix were scuppered by a feisty performance from visitors Kiel on Sunday in a game that swung on two penalties. The hosts enjoyed an early lead, Scott Kennedy meeting Steve Breitkreuz's header following a set-piece. The away side took time to find their rhythm but once into their stride, found the equaliser when Julian Korb reacted quickest after Philipp Sander's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Alexander Meyer. Max Besuschkow was presented with the perfect opportunity to put the hosts back in front, but the midfielder's spot kick was stopped by Thomas Dähne. Alexander Mühling made no such mistake when he converted a penalty after the restart that ultimately brought Kiel maximum returns.