Paderborn & Bielefeld lose
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SV Elversberg won the top game in the 2nd Bundesliga at SC Paderborn and is now the first pursuer of league leaders FC Schalke 04. Younes Ebnoutalib with his eleventh goal of the season (32nd minute) and Frederik Schmahl (76th) scored the goals for the Saarlanders, who overtook their rivals from East Westphalia (29th) with 30 points.
Sven Michel (52nd) scored to equalize for the Paderborn team, who had to play outnumbered for more than half an hour after a red card for Calvin Brackelmann (58th). The defender had pushed Schmahl away from behind.
In a balanced game, the home team had their first chances. Elversberg goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof directed a well-placed shot from Nick Bätzner (11th) around the post with a brilliant save.
Elversberg played well, but initially didn’t pose a threat. But then striker Ebnoutalib struck again. After a short corner and a precise cross from Tom Zimmerschied, the striker was completely free at the far post and headed in to give the visitors the lead.
Shortly before the break, Bambasé Conté could have even increased the score on a counterattack, but his shot was blocked at the last moment. This took revenge after the break, when Paderborn acted much more powerfully and equalized with a direct shot from substitute Michel.
Shortly afterwards, Steffen Tigges missed an XXL opportunity for the home team, who were outnumbered and were lucky that a second goal from Ebnoutalib was canceled because the shooter was previously offside. But then Schmahl scored with a powerful shot that was deflected by Felix Götze to give the visitors a win.
Hofmann’s 75th second division goal redeems Bochum against Bielefeld
With the fifth win in the last seven league games under new coach Uwe Rösler, VfL Bochum has made it into the top half of the table for the first time this season. The Revierklub defeated Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 (1-0) and has now taken ninth place with 19 points. The promoted team from East Westphalia, on the other hand, is suffering from acute weakness away from home and remained winless in their seventh game in a row away from home. Philipp Hofmann (70th minute) ensured the victory in the Ruhrstadion with his 75th second division goal.
In the balanced and intense game, the hosts were more aggressive on the offensive three days after the 0-2 cup defeat against VfB Stuttgart. Kjell Wätjen alone had three chances to take a 1-0 lead in the first period, the best of which was prevented by Arminia’s goalkeeper Jonas Kersken after a counterattack by Wätjen in the 33rd minute.
VfL keeper Timo Horn was also able to excel twice at Bielefeld’s chances. Once against Monju Momuluh (24th) and with a dangerous long-range shot from Marvin Mehlem (31st). But Bochum’s pressure became increasingly stronger and after a beautiful cross from Moritz Kwarteng, Hofmann scored with his head.
1. FC Kaiserslautern sends Dynamo Dresden home without points
After two competitive defeats in a row, 1. FC Kaiserslautern won its home game against Dynamo Dresden 3-1 (1-0). In an often disjointed game, the Palatinate team were the superior team throughout the entire season in front of 46,015 spectators in the Fritz Walter Stadium and thus earned their eighth win of the season. As a result, coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team now maintains visual contact with the promotion ranks with 26 points.
Finn Naatan Skyttä gave the hosts the lead with his eighth goal of the season in the 17th minute. FCK captain Marlon Ritter scored after the restart to make it 2-0 (53rd), Mika Haas scored the third goal for FCK after 70 minutes after great preparatory work by the strong Skyttä.
The newcomer from Dresden only became dangerous in the final phase, but only managed to score in the 76th minute with a remarkable long-range shot from Jakob Lemmer. With 13 points, the Saxons remain in the bottom of the table.