They just don’t let up: 1. FC Heidenheim, who have been written off for a long time, ensures a dramatic relegation final on the last match day with a win in Cologne.
1. FC Heidenheim was ten points behind in the Bundesliga relegation battle. But after the 3:1 (2:1) win at 1. FC Köln, FCH has another big showdown on the last matchday. Jan Schöppner (8th, 72nd minute) and Kristoffer Lund (28th, own goal) scored Heidenheim’s goals on Sunday, while Marius Bülter (10th) scored for the already saved Cologne team.
Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt spoke of one “A well-deserved victory because we defended compactly and passionately as a team and were always dangerous going forward.” Heidenheim had temporarily lost touch with 13 games without a win, but then started a race to catch up with only one defeat in seven games. “It’s been a lot of fun the last few weeks. The team is going in exactly the right direction and is a real unit.”
Heidenheim overtakes St. Pauli
Heidenheim caught up with the competition on points (26) and overtook FC St. Pauli thanks to the larger number of goals scored. Both have a goal difference of -29, Wolfsburg has the best starting position with -26.
At the season finale (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.), FCH needs another win at home against Mainz 05 and also the right result in the relegation duel between St. Pauli and VfL Wolfsburg. A draw would be ideal for Heidenheim, otherwise the goal difference will decide who will save themselves from relegation.
Bülter answers Schöppner
In Cologne, FC offered Heidenheimers some starting help. From his own goal, Cenk Özkacar played a risky and somewhat inaccurate pass into the center. Isak Johannesson apparently thought the pass was meant for someone else and let the ball pass – and so Heidenheim had space. Arijon Ibrahimovic crossed precisely from the left to Schöppner, who headed in unchallenged from six meters.
The people of Cologne responded with dangerous attacks. Heidenheim’s goalkeeper Frank Feller made a strong save at first, but then looked unfortunate when he scored the equalizer. Cologne’s Bülter shot from a tight angle over Feller and under the roof of the goal.
Schmidt surprisingly changes the goalkeeper
The 22-year-old Feller was surprisingly given preference over Diant Ramaj; coach Schmidt justified this at the sports show with Feller’s performance and also with the contract situation. “He will be with us for a long time and that’s why it was important for us to give him the opportunity.” The loan contract with Borussia Dortmund for goalkeeper Ramaj ends in the summer.
Feller only found out the day before that he would be allowed to start a Bundesliga game for the second time. He was talking about one “healthy nervousness. You look forward to it, it’s the most fun in front of a backdrop like that. There was a lot of pressure on the kettle, but we handled it very well.”
Lund unlucky
After the equalizer, a lively game developed with chances on both sides and another Heidenheim goal. Ibrahimovic was involved again, shooting from a half-left position in the penalty area.
Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe deflected the ball slightly with his fingertips, so that Lund’s attempt to clear the ball landed in his own net just before the goal line. It was hard for Lund to prevent that, but the goal was still considered an own goal.
Simpson-Pusey dropped from squad
Cologne didn’t seem quite as solid defensively as it did recently under interim coach René Wagner. The suspended Eric Martel was missing from the defensive midfield and the central defense was also restructured; Joel Schmied played for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. The Englishman was left out of the squad because, according to the club, he arrived too late to sweat.
However, FC continued to pose a threat offensively, including in the 38th minute, when a shot from Said El Mala was blocked by Patrick Mainka at the last moment. On the other side, Schwäbe deflected a shot from Marvin Pieringer just around the post (41′).
El Mala hits Dorsch in the head
The second half began with a promising but poorly played Heidenheim counterattack. And with an unfortunate scene in the visitors’ penalty area: Cologne’s El Mala wanted to shoot from the turn, but did not hit the ball, but the back of the head of Niklas Dorsch, who was lying on the ground. El Mala received a yellow card and Dorsch continued to play after treatment.
Shortly afterwards, Dorsch initiated a counterattack, passed on to Ibrahimovic and his clever cross pass gave Schöppner a huge chance, but the midfielder shot over the goal while standing alone. The third Heidenheim goal was played really well: Schöppner played out to the right to Eren Dinkci, who put it back in the middle and Schöppner finished.
Last game in Müngersdorf for Kainz and Heintz
Cologne had a few good chances in the final phase, and Feller made a strong save against Bülter in the 78th minute. But even Joker Florian Kainz failed to score in his last home game for FC; the Austrian will end his career in the summer. Dominique Heintz also received playing minutes and is leaving FC after the season.
On the last match day, Cologne will be a guest at FC Bayern Munich for the championship trophy handover. At the same time, Heidenheim continues to fight to stay in the league – it would be a sensational comeback.
