Bundesliga
Heidenheim into Conference League play-offs
Heidenheim missed out on direct qualification to the UEFA Conference League last 16 after drawing with St. Gallen in their final fixture of the new league phase.
Heidenheim 1-1 St. Gallen
Goals: 1-0 Theuerkauf 30' (assist: Conteh), 1-1 Stanić 77' (assist: Okoroji)
Already assured of a play-off berth, Heidenheim went into the game on a seven-game losing run in all competitions, but were comfortable for long stretches in the first half. Visiting goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was a bag of nerves at times, fumbling on a number of occasions as Frank Schmidt's team pressed for the opening goal. He did come up with a big save from Leo Scienza, before Heidenheim got the goal their play just about deserved. Having survived a scare at one end when Kevin Csoboth headed off target against the run of play, the Bundesliga outfit forged ahead through Norman Theuerkauf, who applied a confident close-range finish to Sirlord Conteh's cross with 30 minutes gone.
A cagey second half burst into life in the 72nd minute when former Hamburg defender Stephan Ambrosius headed wide from close range. Heidenheim went up the the other end with Paul Wanner, who was denied by the woodwork at the end of a jinking run. St. Gallen levelled soon after as Jozo Stanić - once of Augsburg - converted following a short corner. Substitute Marnon Busch struck the outside of the right-hand post as Heidenheim went in search of the win needed to avoid the play-offs, but that one final chance didn't materialise. Schmidt & Co. will find out who they will face in the knockout phase play-offs at a draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.
Watch: Heidenheim - from the sixth tier to Europe
Match stats
- Heidenheim are playing UEFA competition for the first time. They finished 16th in the 36-team league phase on 10 points.
- This was the first competitive meeting between Heidenheim and St. Gallen.
- Wanner, 18, is one of six Heidenheim goalscorers in the Conference League and is their top scorer in all competitions in 2024/25 with six goals in 22 games.
- Theuerkauf scored his first goal in European competition.
- St. Gallen’s record against German opposition is two wins, two draws and 13 defeats.
- Visiting head coach Enrico Maaßen oversaw 44 games in charge of Augsburg, while Akolo, Ambrosius, Stanić, Chima Okoroji and Betim Fazliji have all previously played in the Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2.
Teams
Heidenheim: Müller - Traoré (Busch 75'), Mainka (c), Gimber, Theuerkauf - Schöppner (Dorsch 65'), Kerber - Conteh (Honsak 65'), Wanner, Scienza (Beck 84) - Kaufmann (Breunig 65')
Unused subs: Eicher, Feller, Föhrenbach, Janes, Negele, Pieringer, Siersleben
Out: Keller (ineligible), Niehues (knee), Schimmer (ineligible), Thomalla (ineligible)
Coach: Frank Schmidt
St. Gallen: Ati Zigi - Vandermersch, Stanić, Ambrosius, Okoroji - Stevanovic (Görtler 46'), Quintillà (c) - Faber, Witzig, Csoboth (Toma 65') - Mambimbi (Akolo 46')
Unused subs: Watkowiak, Dumrath, Geubbels, Cissé, Yannick, Diaby, Vallci, Fazliji, Ruiz
Out: Konietzke (unknown), Nuhu (knee)
Coach: Enrico Maaßen
As it happened!
1 - 1(1 - 0)
Heidenheim
FINAL
St. Gallen
89'
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Three minutes
Can Heidenheim find the late winner needed to bypass the play-offs? They're down in 15th, as things stand...
89'
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Wide!
Patrick Mainka's not far away with a well-struck effort from range. Not sure Ati Zigi would have got there...
87'
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On his toes
Müller with a rare save to beat away Quintilla's long-range strike. The ensuing corner comes to nothing.
84'
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Adrian Beck
Léo Scienza
83'
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Woodwork again!
Busch with the header, but his effort grazes the outside of the right-hand post.
77'
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Heidenheim pegged back!
Uh-oh. Heidenheim are undone by a short corner routine, converted by the head of former Augsburg defender Jozo Stanić. As things stand, they're now out of the top eight and will have to take the play-off route...
75'
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Marnon Busch
Omar Traoré
72'
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Post!
Ambrosius misses a great chance at one end, much to the relief of the home faithful. Heidenheim go up the other with Wanner, who jinks past three defenders and fires against the foot of the upright.
69'
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Final push
The game's lost a bit of direction with those changes and bookings. Feels like a pivotal stage in the contest, especially with Heidenheim down to eighth in the live table. It'll still be enough to avoid the play-offs - but they need to hold on for a win.
65'
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Paul Wanner
65'
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Jordi Quintilla
65'
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Bastien Toma
Kevin Csoboth
65'
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Maximilian Breunig
Mikkel Kaufmann
65'
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Niklas Dorsch
Jan Schöppner
65'
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Mathias Honsak
Sirlord Conteh
53'
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Dangerous scoreline
St. Gallen are getting bodies forward, albeit without seriously threatening in the final third. They will surely get at least one chance, though, the more desperate they become.
49'
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Wanner to the fore
Paul Wanner means business this second half. The Bayern loanee's handy work has already drawn a couple of last-ditch challenges in and around the St. Gallen penalty area.
46'
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St. Gallen changes
Chadrac Akolo replaces Felix Mambimbi, while Lukas Görtler - once of the Bayern Munich reserves - is on for Mihailo Stevanovic. Another Heidenheim goal should seal this as the second half kicks off...
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
44'
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One added minute
Heidenheim are looking fairly comfortable again...
39'
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First booking
And it's Mikkel Kaufmann who's penalised for catching visiting captain Jordi Quintilla with a stray elbow.
39'
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Mikkel Kaufmann
38'
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As things stand
Heidenheim are up to seventh in the table and heading straight through to the knockout rounds...
33'
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Missed opportunity
It opens up for Heidenheim as Kerber and Kaufmann combine in the box, but Ati Zigi is out to smother.
30'
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And ride it they do!
There's the goal - and it's Heidenheim with the lead! Conteh's the instigator with a cross that's initially blocked. He gets a second bite of the cherry and finds Theuerkauf to fire home at the back post.
27'
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Turning tide?
All of a sudden, the Swiss side have taken control. Heidenheim need to ride this storm.
23'
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Warning sign!
Heidenheim are very nearly caught cold against the run of play as St. Gallen threaten for the first time. Csoboth pulls away from his marker, but can't land his header on target.
19'
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Chances
Ati Zigi fumbles once more following a corner. Kerber's rebound is blocked out to Scienza, who is denied by a goalkeeper who looks far from convincing. Gimber then puts his follow-up wide from 12 yards.
13'
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Wing man
Scienza's direct running in the wide areas is causing problems for the visitors. The Heidenheim man has another cross blocked following a surging run.
9'
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Butter fingers
Ati Zigi spills a Wanner corner, but is fouled before a red-and-blue shirt can get anything on the bouncing ball.
2'
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What's at stake?
A reminder that Heidenheim need to win to have any chance of progressing directly to the round of 16. St. Gallen also need maximum points in their pursuit of a play-off berth.
7'
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Right idea
Ati Zigi punches away a Scienza cross. Theuerkauf picks it up on the edge of the area, but can't direct his attempted shot on target. Encouraging start from the hosts!
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Under way!
Visiting St. Gallen get the ball rolling at the Voith-Arena!
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Just over 15 minutes remaining
Not long until we get underway. Can Heidenheim grab the win they need to give themselves a chance of a top-eight spot?
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Heidenheim starting XI
Müller - Traoré, Mainka (c), Gimber, Theuerkauf - Schöppner, Kerber - Conteh, Wanner, Scienza - Kaufmann
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Heidenheim subs
Beck, Breunig, Busch, Dorsch, Eicher, Feller, Föhrenbach, Honsak, Janes, Negele, Pieringer, Siersleben
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St. Gallen starting XI
Ati Zigi - Vandermersch, Stanić, Ambrosius, Okoroji - Stevanovic, Quintillà (c) - Faber, Witzig, Csoboth - Mambimbi
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St. Gallen subs
Watkowiak, Dumrath, Geubbels, Akolo, Cissé, Yannick, Diaby, Görtler, Vallci, Fazliji, Toma, Ruiz
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Spot-kick experts
Heidenheim have converted all three penalties they have been awarded in the Bundesliga this season, a figure bettered only by Bayern Munich, who have five. Unlike Bayern, for whom Harry Kane is the designated taker, Frank Schmidt's side have rotated responsibility this season. Paul Wanner, Marvin Pieringer and Maximilian Breunig have all scored one each from the spot.
10s
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Watch: The Bundesliga's fastest-ever player
Heidenheim have a not-so-secret weapon up their sleeve in the shape of attacker Sirlord Conteh, who set a new all-time Bundesliga speed record earlier this month when he became the first person in the league's history to hit 36.82km/h. Check out his lung-busting burst of pace in this video...
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History on Heidenheim's side
While this is the first meeting between these two teams, St. Gallen have plenty of experience against German outfits. However, they have won just two of their 16 such encounters, losing 13.
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St. Gallen form
It has not been the best of seasons for the Swiss outfit. They have won just one of their past seven games in all competitions, and have amassed just four points in this term's Conference League. Much like Heidenheim, they need to win and wait on results elsewhere, although the best they can achieve is a play-off position.
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State of play
With one match remaining of the league phase, Heidenheim have already secured their place in the knockout play-off - they are already five points above 25th in the table. However, to guarantee themselves a top-eight finish and automatic spot in the last 16, they will need to defeat St. Gallen and hope other results go their way as they sit one point adrift of eighth place with several teams also above them.
123s
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Watch: Heidenheim 1-3 VfB Stuttgart - highlights
Heidenheim suffered a disappointing defeat in their last Bundesliga outing prior to this important European clash.
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Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Heidenheim's sixth and final game of the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League's league phase at home to St. Gallen on Thursday.