With a defeat against FC St. Pauli, 1. FC Heidenheim would mathematically have been relegated from the Bundesliga. After the 2-0 win (1-0), staying in the league is suddenly an issue again. Budu Zivzivadze (3rd) and Eren DInkci (82nd) shot FCH to victory in a long game with few chances and poor quality.
It was the second win in the third game for Heidenheim, who are suddenly only four points behind FC St. Pauli in the relegation zone. Nine points are still up for grabs, but Heidenheim’s next opponent is FC Bayern Munich.
St. Pauli, on the other hand, missed a great chance and is still five points behind the rescue bank, but only one point ahead of VfL Wolfsburg in the first relegation zone. On the last match day there will be a direct duel with the wolves.
Zivzivadze gives Heidenheim an early lead
The FCH started like the fire department. Already in the second minute, Nikola Vasilj had to direct a shot from Dinkci over the crossbar in the FC St. Pauli goal.
But the next corner was tough. Hennes Behrens hit the ball at the second post, Adrian Beck headed it into the middle and Zivzivadze poked it into the goal (3rd). It was the Georgian’s fourth goal of the season and his third goal in the past three games.
It was a promising start to this relegation duel, but not much happened after that. St. Pauli dealt with the early deficit well, but posed little danger offensively. Heidenheim repeatedly tried to advance, but played too imprecisely in the final third.
Ramaj saves against Hountondji
The equalizer almost came out of nowhere in the 24th minute. Danel Sinani sent Andréas Hountondji on the trip. St. Pauli’s center forward appeared free in front of Diant Ramaj, but Heidenheim’s goalkeeper got his foot on the ball and directed the ball around the post. The Kiezkickers couldn’t do more before the break, but neither did Heidenheim.
St. Pauli coach Alexander Blessin reacted and brought in a new striker, Martijn Kaars, for the second half. And the Hamburgers were already feeling more of a move forward than in the first half. In the 49th minute, Sinani only hit the side netting. Four minutes later, Hountondji was again denied by Ramaj (53′).
Arkadiusz Pyrka (l.) in a duel with Marnon Busch.
Heidenheim needed a few minutes to get used to the new game statics, but from the 60th minute onwards they had more possession of the ball and had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the 63rd minute. Zivzivadze headed the ball in the penalty area to Behrens, who was completely free, but he couldn’t do anything with the half-high ball and wasted the chance.
Dinkci makes the decision
After that the game sputtered along again. FC St. Pauli in particular had to ask themselves where the determination of the first few minutes of the second half had gone.
Heidenheim managed the lead with ease and then struck ice cold in the 82nd minute. Ramaj sent Dinkci on his way with a long ball. The striker let Karol Mets out and chased the ball into the right corner. St. Pauli never recovered from this shock.
Heidenheim at Bayern, St. Pauli against Mainz
Heidenheim will now be a guest at FC Bayern next Saturday (3:30 p.m.). St. Pauli welcomes FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday afternoon (3:30 p.m.).
