Despite a large number of top-class goal chances, Fortuna Düsseldorf had to tremble against SV Sandhausen in the 2nd Bundesliga for a long time – two goals in the final phase then ensured an important 2-0 (0-0) victory.
There was only one goal for Düsseldorf in this game: a win. After the painful experiences of the previous days – cup out in Nuremberg after a penalty shoot-out and bankruptcy in the chasing duel in Paderborn (1: 4) – Fortuna had a duty against Sandhausen, they wanted more than the rest of the season in the middle of the second division table spend.
Düsseldorf starts powerfully against Sandhausen
Coach Daniel Thioune’s team started with a correspondingly high level of pressure – who, however, had to accept a painful loss in addition to missing a large number of good opportunities.
Düsseldorf’s top scorer Dawid Kownacki (eight goals, six assists) suffered a muscle injury in the early stages and was replaced by Daniel Ginczek in the 18th minute.
Fortuna doesn’t do much without Kownacki
The offensive efforts suffered enormously as a result, the game flattened out – and Sandhausen had little trouble fending off the opposing attacks. This is exactly what the outsider limited himself to, for whom it is only about staying up in the league this season.
Shortly before half-time, Düsseldorf had the top-class goal that the team had to work so hard to achieve. As is so often the case, Felix Klaus got through on the right flank, but this time his cross found a taker, but Ginczek headed it too unplaced into the hands of SV goalkeeper Patrick Drewes (39th). That should have been the Fortuna leadership.
Düsseldorf restart with usurious opportunities
That also applied to the first action in the second half. After a corner kick, captain Andre Hoffmann headed freely from five yards, but missed the opposing goal (46′). Half a minute later, Drewes parried a volley from Rouwen Hennings (47′) and the visitors’ goalkeeper was also there when Ginczek took the ball directly (52′). Seconds later, Hennings missed the next top-class player from Düsseldorf from a short distance.
After an hour, the goal shot ratio was 16:0 in favor of Fortuna, but in terms of goals, both clubs were still zero – and the pressure on the hosts increased. With a win, Düsseldorf was able to reduce the gap to relegation place three to five points and regain hope of returning to the Bundesliga.
Oberdorf forces luck
And then Sandhausen suddenly had a good opportunity to take the lead. After a counterattack, Alexander Esswein got the shot from close range, but only reached the ball with a tackle and shot into the side netting of the Düsseldorf goal (70′).
But Fortuna also had more opportunities, but tried too often with the crowbar. The Thioune team tried it from almost all positions, seemed increasingly tense and desperate in front of the opposing goal. But in the end it was successful. Tim Oberdorf was lucky in one of the many attempts that he hadn’t had before and his deflected shot landed in the goal to make it 1-0 (86′).
A little later, Fortuna was allowed to cheer again. After a cross from Jona Niemiec, who made his professional debut in the cup and missed the last penalty, Hennings crossed and made the decision from five meters out (88′). And Düsseldorf shot back into the race for the relegation.
Düsseldorf next in Fürth
Fortuna Düsseldorf has to go to Fürth on matchday 21 (Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 1 p.m.). Sandhausen is challenged at home against Karlsruhe a day later (1.30 p.m.).