Fortuna is getting deeper and deeper into crisis
©IMAGO
FC Schalke 04 has temporarily extended its lead in the 2nd Bundesliga and plunged Fortuna Düsseldorf even deeper into the crisis. Hannover 96 spectacularly gave up their potential move to second place in injury time – despite a comfortable lead.
With their first ever second division win in Düsseldorf, leaders Schalke prevailed with a 2-0 (1-0) win in the West duel and have thus secured themselves in the promotion ranks. Fortuna, on the other hand, started the season with great ambitions and is stuck in the relegation zone. After board member Klaus Allofs announced his departure from Düsseldorf at the end of the season, the new coach Markus beginning also came under criticism after six defeats from eight games.
In front of 51,500 spectators in the sold-out Düsseldorf Arena, Kenan Karaman (45th + 2/foul penalty) and Vitalie Becker (81st) scored the goals for the guests. Former Fortuna professional Karaman previously had the best chance to score with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The strong Düsseldorf goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier was at the post.
The recently disappointing hosts showed one of their better games, had the league leaders well under control for almost half and also had a first-class goal opportunity through Florent Muslija (17th). But a foul by Tim Oberdorf on Nikola Katic led to a penalty for Schalke, which Karaman converted in his 100th competitive game for Gelsenkirchen. After just over an hour, the Düsseldorf team had to continue playing when they were outnumbered because Oberdorf was shown a yellow-red card for repeated foul play. Becker set the final point with the 2-0.
Two goals in stoppage time: Hannover 96 misses victory in Münster
Hannover lost a 2-0 lead at Preußen Münster in the thrilling final phase and ultimately had to settle for a 2-2 (1-0). It would have been the third win in a row for 96. At least the Hanoverians temporarily moved up to relegation place.
Goal scorer Benjamin Källman in the 41st minute and substitute Daisuke Yokota (73rd) scored for the guests in front of 10,642 spectators. Münster, which is further in the middle of the table, hit back late. Oliver Batista Meier scored with a penalty kick (90+1), Zidan Sertdemir even equalized (90+6).
Shortly before the end of an extremely tough first half, the Hanoverians took the first real chance of the game to take the lead. Münster’s defenders Paul Jaeckel and Mikkel Kirkesov neither went to the ball properly, Källman headed towards the goal alone and converted safely. It was the Finn’s ninth goal of the season. It was also a fairly even game in the second half. A good quarter of an hour before the end, Yokota scored from close range to make it 2-0 for Lower Saxony. Batista Meier reduced the deficit for Münster after a foul by Ime Okon, before Joker Sertdemir scored with a low shot in the sixth minute of injury time to make it 2-2.