Hamburger SV only ended the first game after coach Tim Walter’s exit in the 2nd Bundesliga with a draw and is in danger of losing touch with league leaders FC St. Pauli.
Under interim coach Merlin Polzin, the defensively vulnerable Hanseatic League failed to get past a 2-2 (1-0) draw in the northern duel against relegation candidate Hansa Rostock after a turbulent final phase.
In front of the 2,600 HSV fans in the Ostseestadion, attacker Robert Glatzel saved the draw in the 86th minute. Jean-Luc Dompé (34th) made it 1-0. Hansa offensive player Juan Perea (50th) deservedly equalized for Rostock, new signing Sveinn Gudjohnsen (82nd) took the lead shortly after coming on.
If FC St. Pauli wins against Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday, the gap between their city rivals and HSV could grow to seven points.
Kiel ready for promotion
Holstein Kiel impressively underlined its ambitions for promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. The Störche won 4-0 (2-0) at the in-form SC Paderborn after a promotion-worthy performance and at least temporarily drew level with St. Pauli on points.
The game was interrupted for around half an hour due to the constant throwing of tennis balls in protest against the planned entry of an investor into the German Football League.
KSC fights for a draw against Düsseldorf
A mistake by goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier in the duel with Karlsruher SC prevented Fortuna Düsseldorf from reaching the promotion relegation place. Despite taking the lead twice, the Rhinelanders had to settle for a 2-2 (1-0) away draw. They are still waiting for a three-pointer in the league after the fifth attempt this calendar year. When the score was 2-2, Kastenmeier unfortunately had the ball slip through his hands.
Fortuna remains seventh in the table, five points behind HSV. The KSC climbs to ninth place, at least temporarily.
Karaman secures a redemptive victory for Schalke
FC Schalke 04 celebrated a cathartic victory in the relegation battle. After a penalty goal from Kenan Karaman (60th), Schalke, who were by no means convincing, achieved a happy 1-0 (0-0) win against newly promoted SV Wehen Wiesbaden. With 26 points, Schalke is now four points ahead of the relegation place and has moved within one point of Wiesbaden.
The game was a very special one for Wehen’s coach Markus Kauczinski: the Gelsenkirchen native, who started his coaching career with Schalke U16 in 1999, appeared with a team in the Veltins Arena for the first time in his 201st second division game.
