2. Bundesliga
Marcel Hartel’s rocket was enough for St. Pauli to extend their astonishing winning streak to 10 straight games in a 1-0 victory in Heidenheim, thrusting the Hamburg-based side firmly into the promotion reckoning.
Heidenheim 0-1 St. Pauli
Goals: 1-0 Hartel (41')
Given the stakes at kick-off, with both teams desperate for the points in their promotion bids, it was perhaps unsurprising that it was initially a cagey affair. Neither side was willing to risk too much and a tame Jan-Niklas Beste header that rolled wide of the goal was the pick of the chances in the opening half hour. Tim Kleindienst should have added to his league-leading 20 goals for the season though, first firing wide with a close-range diving header before rushing a shot from 16 yards. Heidenheim were made to pay for those misses when Hartel rifled in an unstoppable drive on the turn to give St. Pauli the narrowest of leads at half-time.
Heidenheim huffed and puffed in the second half but despite enjoying the vast majority of possession they never seriously looked like troubling the visiting goal. Kleindienst spurned another opportunity when well-placed 12 yards out with their only real glimpse, but Pauli had the more presentable openings. Substitute David Otto crashed a shot off the crossbar just moments after entering the action, and the attacker was later denied one-on-one by goalkeeper Kevin Müller in stoppage time. Ultimately, the away side held on for a 10th successive victory that keeps them well on the promotion track.
Heidenheim: Müller - Busch (Keller 90'), Mainka, Siersleben (Schimmer 71'), Föhrenbach - Maloney - Pick (Burnic 87'), Schöppner (Kühlwetter 87'), Thomalla (Sessa 71'), Beste - Kleindienst
Unused subs: Eicher, Theuerkauf, Geipl, Köther
Out: Beck (Achilles), Qenaj (knee)
Coach: Frank Schmidt
Pauli: Vasilj - Dzwigala, Medic, Mets - Saliakas (Zander 83'), Irvine, Hartel, Paqarada - Metcalfe (Otto 74'), Daschner (Beifus 90'+2), Afolayan (Aremu 83')
Unused subs: Burchert, Fazliji, Ritzka, Eggestein, Saad
Out: Amenyido (Achilles), Matanovic (shoulder), Maurides (knee), Nemeth (groin), Smith (hip)
Coach: Fabian Hürzeler
Matchday 27 round-up
Hamburg 6-1 Hannover
Goals: 1-0 Kittel (34'), 2-0 Benes (41'), 2-1 Köhn (52'), 3-1 Benes (pen. 61'), 4-1 Glatzel (65'), 5-1 Königsdörffer (75'), 6-1 Reis (87')
The hosts gave their title push a much-needed shot in the arm after three consecutive games without a win had allowed Darmstadt to wrestle control at the top. Visiting Hannover provided little resistance as Tim Walter’s men rattled in six goals to the delight their fans at the Volksparkstadion. Despite the result, it did take HSV a little time to get going. After a ponderous start, Ludovit Reis picked out Sonny Kittel for the game’s opener. Laszlo Benes chipped in his team’s second before the break and although Derrick Köhn reduced the visiting arrears after the restart, Benes stroked home his second from the penalty spot after Luka Krajnc fouled Moritz Heyer in the area. Robert Glatzel added a fourth from close range before substitute Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and Reis got in on the scoring act before the end as Hamburg held on to second spot in the standings.
Nuremberg 1-1 Karlsruher
Goals: 0-1 Nebel (26'), 1-1 Duah (pen. 90'+4)
Red card: Franke (90'+3)
Kwadwo Duah held his nerve to score an injury-time equaliser from the penalty spot as hosts Nuremberg claimed what could prove to be a vital point come the season’s end. Looking to avoid being dragged into a relegation dogfight, the hosts’ heads dropped when falling behind to Mikkel Kaufmann’s 26th minute opener following a Karlsruher counter-attack. The visitors held firm - even surviving a late disallowed goal - until Marcel Franke fouled Christoph Daferner in added time, and thus conceding a penalty. Franke was ordered off for his second booking before Duah finished from the spot to help Der Club breathe a sight of relief.
Eintracht Braunschweig 1-0 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Ujah (76')
Kaiserslautern’s hopes of promotion continue to fade into the distance with the Red Devils latest setback meaning it’s now five games without a win for Dirk Schuster’s team. Not that relegation threatened Braunschweig will be worried about their opponents’ plight, the hosts picking up a vital three points here to keep their heads above water towards the bottom. With the game seemingly headed for a stalemate, Maurice Multhaup picked out teammate Anthony Ujah late on and the Nigerian forward finished with a cool lob over Andreas Luthe to help seal the deal for the jubilant hosts.
Arminia Bielefeld 2-2 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Klos (20'), 1-1 Iyoha (48'), 1-2 Klaus (60'), 2-2 Lasme (84')
Bielefeld began the weekend looking to haul themselves further clear of the bottom-three against a Düsseldorf side that’s out of form and beginning to fade from the promotion race. And the hosts required just 20 minutes to take an important lead. Masked assassin Fabian Klos was the man to break the deadlock, his fifth goal of the campaign putting Bielefeld in front at the SchücoArena. But Emmanuel Iyoha brought Düsseldorf level just three minutes after the break and Feliz Klaus’ second on the hour mark put Fortuna ahead. Bielefeld ensured a share of the spoils late on, with Bryan Lasme securing a point.
Darmstadt 2-1 Paderborn
Goals: 1-0 Bader (35'), 1-1 Muslija (44'), 2-1 Manu (59')
While Darmstadt will have been delighted to see Heidenheim slip up at the weekend, Hamburg’s victory on Saturday ate into Darmstadt’s four-point lead at the top - for the time being at least. Matthias Bader’s opener, however, put the home team on course to stretch their lead to five points before Florent Muslija pulled the visitors level on the stroke of half time. The league leaders retook the lead in the second half, Braydon Manu popping up with a sixth goal of the campaign to move Darmstadt five clear at the top of the table.
Hansa Rostock 2-3 Holstein Kiel
Goals: 1-0 Van Drongelen (12'), 1-1 Reese (44'), 1-2 Sander (45'+2), 1-3 Holtby (47'), 2-3 Hinterseer (53')
Hansa have won just once in 2023 and are currently falling closer to relegation with each passing week. They did make an excellent start against Kiel, though, with Rick van Drongelen putting them in front after just 12 minutes. It was a lead they looked to be taking into the break until first Fabian Reese and then Philipp Sander struck in quick succession to turn the game on its head at a stroke. Lewis Holtby added a third two minutes into the second half, ultimately sealing all three points for Kiel despite Lukas Hinterseer reducing the deficit six minutes later.
Sandhausen 0-2 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 0-1 Hrgota (9'), 0-2 Ache (26')
With just one win on the road all season, Greuther travelled to basement outfit Sandhausen with one of the worst away records in the division. They were soon headed to a second away victory of the campaign, however, as Branimir Hrgota and Ragnar Ache gave the Cloverleaves a 2-0 lead by half time. It was a lead that Greuther wouldn't relinquish, providing them with a victory that opens up a six point gap between themselves and the bottom-three. As for Sandhausen, they remain rock-bottom and are now eight points from safety.
Jahn Regensburg 2-2 Magdeburg
Goals: 0-1 Atik (10'), 1-1 Gnaka o.g. (52'), 1-2 Lawrence (80'), 2-2 Caliskaner (90')
Red card: Heber (90'+1)
Regensburg had the chance to climb out of the bottom three were they able to beat Magdeburg but their task was made difficult by Baris Atik’s early opener for the visitors. Mersad Selimbegovic’s team restored parity seven minutes into the second half, though, thanks to a little help from visiting defender Silas Gnaka. Magdeburg fought back and retook the lead with 10 minutes to go, courtesy of Jamie Lawrence's first goal of the campaign. Regensburg levelled for a second, and final, time at the death through Kaan Caliskaner just moments before Daniel Heber's sending off threatened to offer the home team a chance at grabbing a winner but time soon ran out and both sides had to settle for a point.