1. FC Heidenheim clinched its first Bundesliga win. The promoted team deservedly won 4:2 (2:0) against Bremen, who were particularly weak defensively, in front of their home crowd. FCH coach Frank Schmidt is now a record-breaking coach.
The decisive man for the Heidenheimers was Eren Dinkci, who the Bremen team had loaned out to the FCH in the summer. Dinkci scored the goals to make it 2-0 and 3-2 (44th/68th). Marvin Ducksch (49th) and Mitchell Weiser (64th) had meanwhile equalized for Werder to make it 2-2. The other Heidenheim goals were scored by Tim Kleindienst (5th/penalty) and Jan-Niklas Beste (78th).
Thanks to their first Bundesliga threesome, FCH overtook Bremen in the table and is now eleventh, while Werder falls down to twelfth place.
Kleindienst ice cold for Heidenheim from the point
The Bremen team, who initially left the ailing Ducksch on the bench, were immediately caught off guard. After a free kick, Anthony Jung pushed his elbow out a few centimeters too far. According to the video images, referee Patrick Ittrich decided on a penalty. Tim Kleindienst didn’t miss the opportunity from the point.
The Bremen reaction was largely absent. With the 1-0 lead, Heidenheim played calmly and, above all, kept their defense stable. Nick Woltemade and Dawid Kownacki in the Werder offensive didn’t have much to offer and often got confused in their actions.
Safe conduct for Dinkci
A former Werder player did it better. Eren Dinkci, who moved from the Weser to the Brenz in the summer, was given free passage in the 44th minute and completed his Sunday walk through the Werder defense with a powerful shot to make it 2-0.
Werder coach Ole Werner reacted at halftime and brought in three new people, including Ducksch. And he scored the goal early in the second half. FCH keeper Kevin Müller was able to parry his hand penalty, but the striker headed the rebound over the line – 1:2.
Best prepares and scores
Although the Heidenheimers were then back on the trigger, the goal fell again for the guests. New signing Olivier Deman, who came in for Jung at the break, crossed perfectly into the middle, where Weiser rose up and headed in beautifully – 2-2.
That shouldn’t shock FCH coach Frank Schmidt’s team either. Dinkci pushed a well-considered flat pass from Beste over the line to make it 3-2 (68′). Ten minutes later, Beste did it himself and scored from 16 meters after Kleindienst’s pass, making the final score 4-2.
Victory on Frank Schmidt’s record day
A victory to match Frank Schmidt’s record day. Schmidt is now the longest-serving coach in German professional football. Exactly 16 years ago to the day, the 49-year-old took over in Heidenheim and replaced former Freiburg coach Volker Finke as the longest-serving coach in the history of German professional football. Finke looked after Freiburg from 1991 to 2007.
Bremen welcomes Cologne, Heidenheim in Leverkusen
Werder hosts 1. FC Köln on matchday 5 (Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.). The Heidenheimers face Bayer Leverkusen a day later (3:30 p.m.).