Arminia in Kiel also did not make a dismissal for goalkeeper Jonas Kersken. In the end, representative Leo Oppermann was the focus of interest.
Two games, two victories, 7: 1 goals and the lead in the 2nd Bundesliga: Arminia Bielefeld just continues as if the summer break never existed. After the third division championship and moving into the DFB Cup final, the East Westphalia still swim on the wave of euphoria.
After the 5-1 opening victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf, the Bielefelders defeated the next promotion candidate 2-0 on Sunday with Holstein Kiel. Noah Sarenren Bazeee (22nd) with his second goal of the season and newcomer Tim Handwerker with a dream free kick (45th), Arminia shot to victory.
Kniat: “No one is interested in who is up”
After playing, coach Mitch Kniat pressed the euphoric manner after the game at the Sportschau microphone: “It is the second matchday, it is not interested in who is at the top”he said. “Nevertheless, I prefer to be the first than fifth, but it has nothing to say yet. But the performance of us, which we have now shown in the first two games in the second division, was definitely very good.”
Jonas Freudenhammer, Sportschau, 10.08.2025 4:30 p.m.
Especially in half-time one, the Arminia was strong and had the Bundesliga relegation from Kiel under control. In the second half, however, the game could have tipped again, because from the 70th minute of play Bielefeld played outnumbered.
Goalkeeper Jonas Kersken, who ran back into the goal after a liberation strike Kiel’s Jonas Thermelsen, had to go from the square. For referee Daniel Schlager this was enough for a yellow card. And because Kerksen was already warned a few minutes earlier due to time game, he had to get off the pitch with yellow-red.
Kersken: “Didn’t know where to go with me”
“This is the first dismissal in my career. I didn’t know where to go with me at first. I tried to follow the game through a little slit”said Kersken, who had only extended his contract in Bielefeld at the beginning of the month. “In total, I would like more sensitivity from the referee in the scene, because it was not much, I have to say that very clearly. On the other hand, I also have to touch my own nose and be smarter. I just have to walk around my opponent, then nothing happens.”
Coach Kniat didn’t want to blame his goalkeeper: “Errors happen. I always say that I am the first to make mistakes and also the one who makes the most mistakes.he said.
He didn’t want to make the topic unnecessarily big, said Kniat: “I think if it is a field player, I wouldn’t be talked about that much. It wasn’t the best action, but we already have a lot of points for him and have also come to the cup final. Therefore, no reproach at all.”
Oppermann comes in and holds
Kniat was probably so relaxed because he knew that he could rely on his number two. Leo Oppermann came into play for striker Joel Grodowski and replaced Kersken between the posts.
For the 23-year-old, who came to Bielefeld as a loan from Hamburger SV in 2023 and was committed a year later, it was the unexpected second division debut. And Oppermann was challenged several times, because in the majority, Kiel increased the pressure again. Oppermann, however, withstanded all exams.
Performance for Kniat no surprise
“Our replacement goalkeeper comes in, where I also ask me a lot of questions, whether it is surprising for us that it shows such a performance that it is there immediately. For me it was absolutely not surprising”said Kniat. “I see the boy in training every day, I see his attitude, his performance. And I think that for no one who is close to training was a surprise that ‘Opper’ showed the performance he showed today.”
Kersken also did not doubt his representative: “I didn’t worry because I know Leo Oppermann’s qualities. “ This also emphasized goal scorer craftsman: “We have two great goalkeepers and everyone has confidence in Leo Oppermann, I had no concerns when he came in.”
DSC in the cup against Werder Bremen
Oppermann will then be able to demonstrate his skills in two weeks in the home game against Mit-promoted Dynamo Dresden (24.08., 1.30 p.m.). Then Kersken will be blocked. In the previous week, however, Kersken is likely to be in goal when the Arminia Werder Bremen receives in the DFB Cup (August 15, 8:45 p.m., in the live ticker and in the audio full report).
“So far I have no feeling”said Kniat with a view of the cup game. “The joy of Bremen comes shortly before the game.”
