Zero number in the promotion duel
©IMAGO
In its last game of the year, Hamburger SV made an impressive statement in the fight for promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga. At the same time, the players made a convincing statement for interim coach Merlin Polzin with the deserved 5-0 (3-0) against SpVgg Greuther.
Hamburg’s furious first 15 minutes with quick goals from Dennis Hadzikadunic (1st), Davie Selke (11th) and Adam Karabec (13th) were the beginning of Fürth’s sporting downfall. Selke (59th) with his tenth goal of the season and the only 17-year-old Otto Stange (76th) made the clear success perfect in the second half.
“The team is behind Merlin, we are giving full throttle for him,” said the yellow-red suspended HSV professional Daniel Elfadli before the game on “Sky”. During the winter break, a decision will be made as to whether 34-year-old Polzin will be promoted permanently from interim to head coach as the successor to Steffen Baumgart, who was released in November, or whether a renowned trainer will be brought in. After all, the team remained unbeaten in the four games under Polzin with two wins and two draws and is in second place in the promotion at least until Sunday at the end of the first half of the season. The 5-0 was also HSV’s second-highest win in its second division history.
Elfadli’s announcement was followed by action by his colleagues. A few seconds after kick-off, Selke took the corner, which gave defender Hadzikadunic the lead. Later Selke and Karabec followed up. There was no sign of the Fürth team, who were unbeaten three times recently, against Hamburg’s stable defense. Even after the break nothing changed in the overall picture. HSV dominated, Fürth had no chance.
Karlsruher SC jumps to the top of the table after victory in Paderborn
Karlsruher SC is the new leader in the 2nd Bundesliga. The Baden team won 2-1 (2-1) at SC Paderborn. The East Westphalians, on the other hand, missed out on top spot after their third game without a win and temporarily fell back to sixth place. 1. FC Kaiserslautern and 1. FC Köln, who face each other in a direct duel on Sunday, as well as Hannover 96 can still overtake KSC in the table.
The goals were scored by Sebastian Jung (16th minute) and Budu Zivzivadze (35th) in front of 14,362 spectators. Raphael Obermair (45th/foul penalty) scored the next goal for SCP. While it was Karlsruhe’s first success against SC after seven games without a win, SC coach Lukas Kwasniok suffered a defeat against his former club for the first time in his professional coaching career.
Both teams played in mourning and showed their condolences to the victims of Magdeburg with a minute’s silence before kick-off. Paderborn dominated the game from the start. The KSC waited, but used the first offensive action to take a surprising lead. Paderborn’s first opportunity through Tjark Scheller was cleared off the line. KSC striker Zivzivadze took advantage of the direct countermove after a mistake by SC goalkeeper Markus Schubert to make it 2-0.
Before the break, the SC at least managed to score the next goal. Marcel Beifus fouled Felix Platte in the penalty area, which, according to video evidence, led to a penalty. This goal gave the home team new self-confidence, who came out of the locker room determined after the restart, but were unsuccessful in finishing. However, the KSC didn’t allow much for its strong goalkeeper Max Weiß. A goal from Platte was disallowed for offside.
Preußen Münster and SSV Ulm end goalless in the promotion duel
Preußen Münster and SSV Ulm had to settle for a draw in the promoted duel. On the last matchday of the first half of the season, both teams drew 0-0 in a hard-fought game. With 16 points at the winter break, Münster can no longer slip into a relegation zone, Ulm could still be overtaken by Braunschweig.
From the start, the guests set the pace and had some great opportunities, which were again destroyed by the Münster goalkeeper Johannes Schenk, who once again parried very well. The Westphalians, who surprisingly won 2-1 at Hertha BSC on the previous matchday, were completely disappointing in the 45 minutes and didn’t even appear dangerous in front of the Ulm goal.
Münster was more active in the second half of the game, but there were hardly any chances to score for a long time in front of 12,672 spectators in the sold-out Preußenstadion. Shortly before the end, Ulm had two chances, Münster only hit the post two minutes before the final whistle.