Heidenheim triumph over 10-man Union Berlin

Heidenheim 2-0 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Krätzig 17’ (assist: Scienza), 2-0 Beck 83’
Red card: Rothe 37’

In a match that marked Steffen Baumgart's debut as Union Berlin's coach, Heidenheim secured a vital 2-0 victory, ending their 10-game winless streak in the Bundesliga. The clash at the Voith-Arena saw Heidenheim's new signings make an immediate impact, while Union Berlin's struggles continued, extending their winless run to nine matches. With both teams desperate for points, the game was poised to be a tense encounter.

The first half saw Union start brightly, with Jordan coming close in the 8th minute as his shot rattled the crossbar. However, it was Heidenheim who struck first. In the 17th minute, Frans Krätzig announced his arrival at the club in style, finishing coolly from a Léo Scienza assist to put the hosts 1-0 up. The match took another turn in the 28th minute when Scienza was forced off due to injury, with Sirlord Conteh coming on as his replacement. The substitute made an immediate impact, as in the 37th minute, Union's Tom Rothe received a straight red card for bringing down Conteh who was through on goal.

The second half saw Heidenheim assert their numerical advantage, dominating possession and creating several chances. Union, despite being a man down, showed resilience and threatened on the counter-attack. In the 56th minute, Tim Skarke, a former Heidenheim player, tested Kevin Müller with a powerful shot, but the goalkeeper was equal to it. However, Union's hopes were dashed in the 83rd minute when Adrian Beck pounced on a rebound from a Budu Zivzivadze shot to double Heidenheim's lead. The goal effectively sealed the match, giving Heidenheim a crucial 2-0 victory and three valuable points in their fight for Bundesliga survival.

Conteh emerged as the game-changer for Heidenheim, despite not starting the match. Introduced in the 28th minute due to Scienza's injury, Conteh's impact was immediate and lasting. His pace and direct running caused constant problems for the Berlin defence all afternoon, culminating in the red card incident that turned the tide of the match. Conteh's speed was unmatched on the pitch, clocking a top speed of 34.68 km/h. His ability to stretch the play and create opportunities for his teammates was crucial in Heidenheim's dominant second-half performance.

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Heidenheim 2.14 - Union 1.16
Fastest player: Sirlord Conteh (Heidenheim), 34.68 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Frans Krätzig (Heidenheim), 23 percent
Most pressed player: Benedict Hollerbach (Union), 23 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Adrian Beck (Heidenheim), +2.11

Fantasy Heroes: Patrick Mainka (Heidenheim, 267 Points), Omar Traoré (Heidenheim, 259 Points), Frans Krätzig (Heidenheim, 252 Points)