The “Adventure of Europe” has ended for 1. FC Heidenheim. After a home defeat after extension against FC Copenhagen, the Swabians out of the Conference League.
The 1. FC Heidenheim has lost its playoff home game against FC Copenhagen with 1: 3 (0: 1) after extension – and thus excretes from the Conference League. Amin Chiakha (37th minute), Kevin Diks (53rd, penalty after video evidence) and Rodrigo Huescas (114th) scored for the Danish top club, which was turning the 1-2 home defeat from a week ago in the second leg on the Ostalb. Leo Scienza had meanwhile set 1: 2 for the FCH (74.).
Now Guimaraes or Chelsea are waiting
Copenhagen is therefore in the round of 16 of the Conference League. There the FC meets Guimaraes from Portugal or Chelsea FC – the draw will take place on Friday (February 21st) in Nyon.
Jan Schöppner: “Faith was always there”
“Faith was always there. We were on the pusher after the first half was not so good. The exit is bitter,” said FCH defender Jan Schöppner to SWR Sport.
“It hurts a lot,” said Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt. “We did everything we can to get on. It is not just straight. We are tested.”
It was a duel of the opposites: Heidenheim had recently lost five times in a row in the Bundesliga, while Copenhagen in the home league has been unbeaten for ten games and is tied with Midtjylland at the top of the table. In the first leg, however, nothing was to be seen When the FCH was able to convert a deficit from Thomas Keller and Tim Siersleben into a 2-1 win. The team of Coach Schmidt started the second leg with five new counterparts the game against Mainz 05 (0: 2) on the weekend. The motto on the Ostalb was “freshness through rotation”.
In the initial phase, the game was shaped by the tactics. Both teams were careful not to act too aggressively and be safe. Apart from spacer shots, goal opportunities were initially in short supply.
Frank Feller saves Elias Achouri
In the 31st minute, Copenhagen then had the first really good opportunity for the game. Chiakha stuck on Elias Achouri. The offensive player pulled off from a central position, but Frank Feller, who replaced regular keeper Kevin Müller, was on hand. After the subsequent corner, the ball came to Achouri again, who just passed the FCH goal.
Amin Chiakha puts Copenhagen in the lead
Copenhagen was now on the trigger. After a cross from Mohamed Elyounoussi, Chiakha headed just over the Heidenheimer Tor (36th), but a minute later the striker was there. He netted a flank from Diks by head to tour (37th) – completely earned at this point and at the same time the halftime score. From Heidenheim there was too little in the first round, only Budu ZivziVadze tested guest goalkeeper Dant Ramaj with a volley shot (40th).
Kevin Diks increases by penalty
Shortly after the break there was the next neck strike for Heidenheim. Defensive player Jonas Föhrenbach grown against Giorgi Gocholeishvili in his own penalty area – and hit his opponent (49th). Referee Nikola Dabanovic initially continued to run, but the Var intervened. Dabanovic looked at the scene again – and then decided on penalty for Copenhagen. Diks did not miss the chance from the point and increased to 2-0 for the Danes (53.).
There was a Heidenheim sign of life in the 57th minute by Patrick Maine, but the captain’s volley shot went over Copenhagener Tor. A little later, ZivziVadze failed on the strongly reacting Ramaj (62nd).
Leo Scienza with a real dream goal
But the FCH now put pressure on – and after many attempts in the 74th minute, rewarded itself through Scienza. The substitute striker scored from 17 meters from 17 meters over the wall into the left upper corner to 1: 2 – a real dream goal.
After the connection goal, Heidenheim continued to play forward, Copenhagen could hardly free himself in this phase. The Ostalb team now won almost every duel and pushed for the equalization. And there were opportunities: Mainka grimaced after a corner in the 86th only half a meter. In the 90th minute, Scienza hit the post with a half -right position on the left, the ball crashed into keeper Ramaj and went to the goal. On the other hand, Feller parried a distance from Victor Froholdt (88th).
It finally went into extra time – and in this both teams took some speed out. Heidenheim’s Mathias Honsak failed after a change of sides of Scienza with a direct acceptance to FC keeper Ramaj (98.), otherwise both teams shy away from the last risk. After the first half of the extension, it was still 1: 2 from a FCH point of view.
Rodrigo Huescas with the crucial goal
In the remaining 15 minutes, the FCH then increased the pressure again – but Copenhagen set the decisive goal. Huescas met for a counterattack that the Heidenheim defense had actually stopped, but then lost the ball again, 1: 3 (114.). Afterwards Heidenheim threw everything forward, tried it with many long balls, but unsuccessful. Huescas hit the post for Copenhagen in the 120th minute, then it was over.
For the 1. FC Heidenheim, the “Adventur Europe” has ended. The Ostalb team can now concentrate on the relegation battle in the Bundesliga. On Sunday (February 23rd, 3:30 p.m.) it continues with the away game at RB Leipzig.
Prize on Fri., February 21, 2025 6:00 a.m., SWR Currently in the morning, SWR Current
