FC St. Pauli continued its splendid series of successes in the 2nd Bundesliga in the second Düsseldorf free game of the season. This means that Hamburg remains the confident leader of the table this season after 22 competitive games without defeat.
The promotion favorite won the second game of the season with free entry at Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-1 (2-0) and thus underlined their role as favorites in the upcoming quarter-final game of the DFB Cup against Düsseldorf.
In front of 52,000 spectators, who had free entry to the Düsseldorf EM Arena, Marcel Hartel (16th minute/hand penalty/26th) scored both goals for the guests. Christos Tzolis (83′) scored for Düsseldorf, who would have moved up to third place with a win. The third free game of the “Fortuna for All” pilot project will take place in April against Eintracht Braunschweig.
Hertha loses in Wiesbaden
Bundesliga relegated Hertha BSC has suffered a setback on its way to the top third of the 2nd Bundesliga table and botched the dress rehearsal before the cup quarter-finals against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
In the first away game after the death of President Kay Bernstein, the Berliners surprisingly lost 1:3 (0:1) to newly promoted SV Wehen Wiesbaden and suffered a defeat for the first time after ten unbeaten competitive games.
Franko Kovacevic (24th minute/53rd) scored a brace in front of 10,454 spectators in the Arena in Wiesbaden, and Thijmen Goppel (72nd) also scored for SVWW. Jonjoe Kenny (59th) was successful for Hertha.
The capital city team had more of the game from the start, but were hardly a goal threat. On the other hand, the hosts took advantage of their first chance through Kovacevic, who took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half after a ball deflected to the side by goalkeeper Tjark Ernst.
In a lively game in which both teams missed great chances, Kovacevic scored again shortly afterwards to take the lead 2-0 when he stuck his foot out from five meters after Bjarke Jacobsen’s failed finish. After Ivan Prtajin missed the preliminary decision for the promoted team with a shot on the crossbar (56th), Kenny allowed Hertha to come close again with a remarkable long-range shot into the left corner. But after a nice counterattack, Goppel finished with a shot from eleven meters and thus decided the game.
Rostock celebrates a late goal
Thanks to a penalty goal in stoppage time, FC Hansa celebrated its first win of the new year. On coach Mersad Selimbegovic’s home debut, Kai Pröger (90th 2) scored with a hand penalty to make it 2-1 (0-1) against newly promoted SV Elversberg. The important home win in front of 24,000 spectators was happy but deserved. As a result, Hansa initially left a direct relegation place in the table.
After the visitors’ opening goal by Luca Schnellbacher (41′), Dennis Dressel equalized for the home team with a volley in the second half (69′). Until then, the Rostock team had difficulty putting together an orderly offensive game.
In stoppage time, SVE defender Frederik Jäkel was shown a red card after a handball in the penalty area. Pröger converted the penalty into the celebrated winning goal. For Hansa it was the first win in five games. In the first leg in Saarland, the Rostock team had already turned a 1-2 deficit into a 3-2 win in stoppage time.
Osnabrück has to share the points in the majority
VfL Osnabrück missed a great opportunity in the relegation battle. Despite being outnumbered for a long time, the bottom team only managed a 0-0 draw against SC Paderborn. It was the twelfth winless game in a row for Lower Saxony.
Osnabrück started very powerfully and had an early chance to take the lead in the eleventh minute. Dave Gnaase’s free kick from about 25 meters away from the goal crashed into the crossbar of the Paderborn goal. From the 17th minute onwards, the guests had to play outnumbered as midfielder Kai Klefisch was shown a yellow-red card after two fouls.
However, VfL coach Uwe Koschinat’s team didn’t make enough use of their numerical superiority. Paderborn retreated to their own penalty area and defended the tie without any major problems. SCP goalkeeper Pelle Boevink fended off Erik Engelhardt’s header (67th) with a strong save. For the guests, the point they fought for was more than deserved.
