Fight for Bundesliga ticket open
© Imago
The supposed dwarf duel became the big football show: 1st FC Heidenheim and SV Elversberg separated in a gripping relegation first leg 2: 2 (0: 2). The second division sensation from Saarland played a 2-0 lead, the Bundesliga club showed great morality. The decision as to who will play first -class is made on Monday (8:30 p.m./Sat.1 and Sky).
The game had sometimes been ironically referred to as “El Dorfico” in advance, but offered the best entertainment. Lukas Petkov (18th minute) and Fisnik Asllani (42nd) met in front of 15,000 fans on the Ostalb for the guests. Tim Siersleben (62nd) and Mathias Honsak (64th) still compensated with a double strike.
The Elversberg high-flyers can continue to hope for the first Bundesliga rise of their history, Heidenheim has to continue to fear the crash after two years in the upper house, including the European Cup. But still – and in the meantime it didn’t look like this – everything is in the second leg for both teams.
“Fortress Albstadion impregnable” was on a large banner in the Heidenheim fan block. But that only applies to a limited extent this season. The FCH was the worst Bundesliga team of the past season in its own stadium. After all, he fought his way back and kept the duel before the second leg in the 13,000-inhabitant community of Spiesen-Elversberg.
The game started directly with an excitement: after a Elversberger corner, Heidenheim’s Niklas dorsch was up and away. The 27-year-old tried to curve SVE keeper Nicolas Kristof. He got into the stumbling and fell – but there was no penalty from referee Sven Jablonski.
As a result, the Heidenheimers initially left far too much. Marvin Pieringer, for example, was just offside (7th) when playing a nice chopping from Dorsch, Adrian Beck pushed the ball over the goal to the right (17th).
And Elversberg? Got a little less often into the opposing penalty area in the first round – if so, but then really dangerous. In phases, the offensive around Hoffenheim loan asllani raised an extremely attractive combination game.
It was also asllani who prepared the guest tour. Petkov chased the ball into the right lower corner, Heidenheim’s goalkeeper Kevin Müller was powerless. Just like with the beautifully played 0: 2 minutes before the break. Petkov and Asllani were again involved – this time Elversberg’s goal -getter himself met. The fact that the supposed connection goal by Omar Traoré (45.+4) did not count due to offside.
Heidenheim’s coaching veteran Frank Schmidt reacted and reinforced his offensive after the change of sides with Budu ZivziVadze, Leo Scienza and the ex-elderly Paul Wanner. The duo was hardly on the pitch when Muhammed Damar on the other hand gave the great chance to 0: 3 (48th).
But then the Heidenheimers struck back. Honsak met the latte (58th), then Siersleben dusted for a mistake from SVE goalkeeper Kristof to 1: 2. Just three minutes later, a dusty dust – and Honsak equalized. Substitute Scienza was involved in the creation of both goals.