FCN beats KSC shortly before the end
©IMAGO
Hertha BSC stopped its negative trend and started the year with a win at SC Paderborn. Coach Cristian Fiél’s team defeated East Westphalia 2-1 (1-0) at the start of the second half of the 2nd Bundesliga. Derry Scherhant scored a dream goal in the 16th minute to give the capital club an early lead. The 22-year-old flicked the ball precisely into the corner of the goal. Michaël Cuisance extended the lead with a penalty kick (69′). For the SCP it was only enough to connect through Sven Michel (90th + 4).
Before the winter break, Hertha had not won three games in a row and only picked up one point. The victory is now encouraging, even if the Berliners needed luck at times. A goal from Paderborn’s Filip Bilbija in the opening phase did not count because of a very close offside position. In addition, the hosts missed numerous chances in front of 14,280 spectators, including hitting the post. Coach Lukas Kwasniok’s team is falling further behind in the promotion race. Paderborn has lost three of the last four games. The SCP has 28 points, three more than the Berliners.
Elversberg leads 2-0 and still clearly loses to Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg made a brilliant comeback and clearly won the duel with SV Elversberg. Led by triple goalscorer Martijn Kaars, coach Christian Titz’s team made up a two-goal deficit and won clearly with 5:2 (0:2).
Magdeburg is therefore second in the table behind Hamburger SV and ahead of 1. FC Köln. With a win, the hosts would also have moved up to the direct promotion ranks. The decisive situation in the game in front of around 9,500 spectators was Elversberg’s Frederik Schmahl being sent off. He was shown a red card after an emergency stop in the 44th minute and thus massively weakened his team. At this point, the Saarland team still had a commanding 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Luca Schnellbacher (3rd) and Lukas Petkov (36th).
After halftime only the guests played. The outstanding Kaars equalized with a brace (46’/70′) and later scored the fifth and final goal (90’+1). Xavier Amaechi (70′) and Mohammed El Hankouri (77’/foul penalty) made the decision with their goals. In addition to his three goals, Kaars also took the penalty.
1. FC Nürnberg celebrates late against Karlsruher SC
Miroslav Klose prevented Karlsruher SC from jumping to first place with 1. FC Nürnberg. With a 2-1 (1-1) goal from substitute midfielder Florian Flick in injury time, Nuremberg deservedly won on Sunday against the guests from Baden, who for the first time had to do without striker Budu Zivzivadze, who had moved to 1. FC Heidenheim in the Bundesliga . If they had won away, KSC would have taken the lead in the table.
Top goalscorer Zivzivadze (twelve goals) was immediately irreplaceable offensively. Klose’s team was superior in front of 31,507 spectators in the Max Morlock Stadium and rewarded themselves late. Flick scored well from a distance. Stumjuwel Stefanos Tzimas (36th) made it 1-0. Just four minutes after the 19-year-old Greek’s ninth goal of the season, it was former club hero Fabian Schleusener who also scored with his head.
The KSC left the game design to the hosts. The FCN also created the majority of opportunities. But it took until the first goal. KSC goalkeeper Max Weiß fended off a tricky shot from Julian Justvan, and Tzimas was there with his head to follow up. The young Greek increases his market value and the interest of top clubs with every goal. The comeback of striker Mikkel Kaufmann, who was signed for Zivzivadze, was unfortunate in the KSC jersey. The Dane limped off the pitch after 53 minutes in pain after twisting his foot.