There is also no turning point on the Bosphorus: 1. FC Heidenheim has made a breakthrough in the Conference League and missed a big step towards the round of 16. Coach Frank Schmidt’s team lost 1:3 (0:2) at Istanbul Basaksehir on the penultimate matchday of the league phase.
After two defeats in a row, the Heidenheimers, who started with three wins, now need help in the fight for direct qualification for the round of 16 on the last match day. Despite the defeat, they are almost certain of a play-off place.
Schmidt then found clear words for his team’s performance in Istanbul. “We were demonstrated from the first to the last second,” said the FCH coach on the RTL microphone: “We simply didn’t have the heart to win a game. I’m very disappointed that we had this passion and… “We didn’t bring emotions to the field.”
1. FC Heidenheim: Istanbul is quietly nipping hope in the bud
Across all competitions, Heidenheim only managed one win in the last ten games. Deniz Türüc (6th), Miguel Crespo (18th) and former Hertha striker Krzysztof Piatek (68th) sealed the eighth defeat during this time and the sixth in a row in the sparsely occupied Basaksehir Fathi Terim Stadium. Mathias Honsak (61st) scored the next goal for Heidenheim.
The cold shower caused by the early first goal allowed Paul Wanner to lose the ball in midfield. After a pass to the left wing and a flat cross, Türüc scored freely in front of the European Cup debutant Vitus Eicher, who had been rotated into the team, in the Heidenheim goal. Just twelve minutes later, Crespo gave FCH the next blow after a corner with a powerful follow-up shot.
At Heidenheim, however, there was hardly anything going forward. After around 30 minutes, Schmidt replaced Wanner and striker Maximilian Breunig. Shortly afterwards, substitute Jan Schöppner’s best chance failed to hit the crossbar (40′). Honsak, also a substitute, provided the connection after the break after a corner – and hope. But Piatek nipped this in the bud just a little later.