Third division relegation: Würzburg dreams of promotion thanks to an away win at Lok Leipzig

Saxony is threatened with another failure

The Würzburger Kickers have achieved a good starting position in the fight for promotion to the third division. With a 1-0 (1-0) win in the first leg against Northeast champions 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig, the representative from the Bavarian Regional League secured a good starting position ahead of the second leg on Monday (6.30 p.m./MagentaSport) in Würzburg. In front of 10,787 spectators in the Bruno Plache Stadium, Liam Omore scored the decisive goal for the Lower Franconians (50th minute).

The legitimate successor to the first German football champions VfB Leipzig (1903) is making its third attempt for the 3rd league in the midst of the “Promotion Reform 2025 – Champions must be promoted”. In 2020 the team lost against SC Verl, last year Lok failed against TSV Havelse. The Kickers went into the game with a lot of momentum thanks to their prestige win in the Bavarian State Cup against 1860 Munich. Coach Michael Schiele’s team was livelier, more snappy and had the first big chance of the game through Jermain Nischalke (23′) when he ran freely towards Lok goalkeeper Andreas Naumann. Then, seconds later, Tarsis Bonga headed the ball onto the underside of the crossbar. Lok woke up briefly and also had the first goal through Eren Öztürk (27th). But guest keeper Johann Hipper parried.

After the change, the Kickers rewarded themselves with the lead. Omore scored with a header after a Bonga assist. Referee Lars Erbst had to briefly interrupt the game after a good hour due to billowing smoke from pyrotechnics that had burned out. Substitute Cherif Cisse (71′) could have made everything clear when he ran freely towards Lok keeper Naumann from his own half. But his shot to make it 2-0 went well over the goal. Würzburg dreams of returning to the third division after four years.