3rd league
As of: March 4, 2026 8:57 p.m
Third division soccer team FC Hansa Rostock still has its sights set on the relegation spot for promotion to the second division. The Mecklenburgers won their away game at TSV Havelse 3-1 (2-1) on Wednesday evening. The Lower Saxony team will definitely leave the league – but in the other direction.
TSV is now a whopping twelve points behind a non-relegation place, 19th in the table. is staggering towards the second third division relegation in the club’s history. Hansa, on the other hand, is on top after the second three points in a row and is in fourth place, two points behind relegation place three, where MSV Duisburg currently lies.
The Meiderich team made a mistake that evening and couldn’t get past a goalless draw at FC Ingolstadt.
Hansa fans make noise, get the goal
The World Cup stadium in Hanover, which, in addition to being the home of the local second division team Hannover 96, also acts as an alternative venue for Havelse, was firmly in Rostock’s hands. The almost 6,000 Hansa fans who traveled along created a home game atmosphere that evening, which visibly spurred the Mecklenburgers on the pitch.
Emil Holten gave the guests a 1-0 lead with a well-placed header in the 17th minute, which was fully deserved due to FCH’s playing advantages.
Rostock remained the dominant team even after taking the lead – and followed up. After a quickly taken free kick, Jan Mejdr crossed sharply into the Lower Saxony box. Holten waited for the cross and his potential second goal, but his opponent beat him to it. Semi Belkahia unfortunately maneuvered the ball into his own goal and made it 2-0 for the guests (30th).
Düker keeps TSV in the game
However, Havelse’s answer was not long in coming. In the immediate counterattack, the “Kogge” did not get the situation clarified, Robin Müller followed up and the ball bounced from his shin to Julius Düker, who reduced the score to 1:2 (32′). The hosts then continued to throw needles, but overall they were much more harmless than Hansa.
Nevertheless, Hansa coach Daniel Brinkmann was dissatisfied with the drop in performance of his players in the second half. He loudly warned his players from outside to concentrate. Compared to the first half, the game was more disjointed, both sides made numerous bad passes and there were fewer offensive scenes. Holten’s low shot from the 57th minute was FCH’s only chance to score for a long time.
Krauss decides the game
Substitute Maximilian Krauss, who made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute after a counterattack by the guests, provided the revival and ultimately the decision. Nine minutes later, Krauss even had Rostock’s fourth goal on the line, but was denied by the side netting. It would have been one too many at that height.
On Saturday (2 p.m./live on NDR television and on NDR.de) there will be the top game, Hansa will be visiting second-placed Energie Cottbus and can open the door to the second league in Lausitz a little further. Havelse, who have been waiting for a win for five games now, have to play at Waldhof Mannheim on Sunday.
27th matchday, March 4th, 2026 7:00 p.m
Quindt – Plume, Belkahia, Kolgeci – Sommer, Düker, Berger (85. Rufidis), Aytun (65. Ilic) – Rexhepi (65. Paldino), Polster (40. Oltrogge) – R. Müller (85. Schepp)
1
Uphoff – Mejdr, Wallner, Carstens, Bergh – M. Schuster – Dirkner (70. Fatkic), Harenbrock (60. L. Kunze) – Lebeau (78. C. Kinsombi) – Holten (70. Voglsammer), Hummel (46. Krauß)
3
Goals
- 0:1 Holten (17.)
- 0:2 Belkahia (30th, own goal)
- 1:2 Düker (32.)
- 1:3 Krauss (72.)
More information about the game
