Paderborn came from behind to win at Elversberg and cement top spot in Bundesliga 2. - © IMAGO/Sebastian Bach

2. Bundesliga

Bundesliga 2, Matchday 14: Paderborn stretch lead, Hamburg beat Karlsruhe

01.12.2024

Paderborn cemented top spot with a win at Elversberg, after Cologne drew with Hannover and Kaiserslautern won at Schalke. On Sunday, coach-less Hamburg beat Karlsruhe.

Matchday 14 results

Elversberg 1-3 Paderborn
Goals: 1-0 Damar (27’), 1-1 Curda (45’+3), 1-2 Kostons (64’), 1-3 Brackelmann (80’)

Top spot was on the line at the Ursapharm-Arena as in-form Elversberg hosted leaders Paderborn separated by just two points. And the hosts came close to an early lead when Tom Zimmerschied volleyed a cross from the right just over. Paderborn controlled proceedings and had their best chance when Ilyas Ansah headed wide. Elversberg then went ahead midway through the first half when Muhammed Damar fired in at the second attempt after air-kicking his first shot from the edge of the box. However, the visitors hit back on the stroke of half-time when Laurin Curda headed in a corner to become the team’s 12th different goalscorer this season with his maiden Bundesliga 2 finish. Paderborn remained in the ascendancy after the restart and finally had the lead just after the hour mark when Koen Kostons drove home. The three points were in the bag for the league leaders when Calvin Brackelmann slotted in with 10 minutes remaining.

Cologne 2-2 Hannover
Goals: 0-1 Ngankam 25’, 1-1 Lemperle 48’, 2-1 Downs 81’, 2-2 Kainz o.g. 86’
Red card: Christiansen 55’

Cologne suffered the ultimate gut-punch as they took on Hannover at home competing for a spot in the promotion places. The hosts hadn’t conceded in four games, but that run was ended by Jessic Ngankam during an impressive first half from Hannover. In the second period, everything changed. Cologne ran rings around their opponents with Tim Lemperle grabbing an equaliser three minutes after the break, and then the visitors went down to 10 men as Max Christiansen picked up their first red card of the season. It looked like three points were on their way, and even more so when Damion Downs scored to make it 2-1 with nine minutes to play. However, Florian Kainz’s late own goal gave Hannover the most hard-fought of points at the RheinEnergieSTADION.

Schalke 0-3 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 0-1 Ache 12', 0-2 Hanslik 52', 0-3 Yokota 61'

Kaiserslautern underlined their promotion credentials with a convincing win at struggling Schalke. Ragnar Ache scored inside the opening 12 minutes to put the Red Devils - unbeaten in their previous five matches - on course for victory. The former Eintracht Frankfurt striker missed a great chance to double his tally late in the first half, but Schalke never looked like making him pay. Second-half goals from Daniel Hanslik and Daisuke Yokota sealed the deal to send Kaiserslautern into provisional second whilst leaving the Royal Blues - who had a 72nd-minute penalty decision overturned by VAR - looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone.

Karlsruhe 1-3 Hamburg
Goals: 0-1 Dompé 23', 1-1 Schleusener 36', 1-2 Dompé 55', 1-3 Selke 87'

Hamburg got life under interim coach Merlin Polzin off to a great start with a win away to Karlsruhe. Their first goal was rather gifted to them, as Max Weiß's panicked pass could only find Jean-Luc Dompé, who curled the ball into the bottom corner to get Hamburg on their way. The hosts did grow back into the game and eventually equalised through Fabian Schleusener, whose header shortly before half-time set up and enticing second-half. Hamburg reacted well though, and another brilliant Dompé finish had the visitors back in front; he was also involved in his side's third and final goal, with his incisive through ball setting up Davie Selke to finish off the game.

Magdeburg 1-3 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 El Hankouri 48' 1-1 Scherhant 55', 1-2 Niederlecher 65', 1-3 Schuler 86'

Hertha gave their promotion prospects a boost with a clinical showing away to Magdeburg, who had started the weekend's round of fixtures three points better off than their capital counterparts. Mo El Hankouri broke the deadlock for the hosts early in the second half, but Hertha turned the game on its head in a blistering 10-minute spell courtesy of goals by Derry Scherhant and Florian Niederlechner. Luca Schuler made the points safe late on as the Old Lady moved above Magdeburg on goal difference, and to within two points of the promotion play-off spot.

Nuremberg 2-2 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Jeltsch 15', 1-1 Jóhannesson 67', 2-1 Tzimas 84', 2-2 Justvan o.g. 90'+1

It was a back and forth game in Nuremberg that ended all-square after a late equaliser for the visitors. Three of the game's four goals came within the final half hour, after Finn Jeltsch opening the scoring early on for the hosts. Ísak Jóhannesson managed to draw his side level with just under 25 minutes to go, but it didn't last long as Stefanos Tzimas looked to have rescued his side with a late winner. There was still one last piece of drama to come, however, as a Julian Justvan own goal in the dying moments meant that both sides had to share the points.

Ulm 1-1 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 0-1 Green pen. 16', 1-1 Telalović pen. 45'+1

Ulm had to come from behind at home to rescue a point, as they missed the opportunity to climb out of the bottom three. Greuther Fürth also missed the opportunity to pull away from the danger zone having taken an early lead, and currently sit just two points ahead of Ulm. Julian Green got the visitors off to a great start when he converted his penalty after an Ulm handball, but they couldn't build on their lead and the hosts eventually equalised with a penalty of their own on the stroke of half-time, with Semir Telalović converting that one. Neither side could find that winning goal though and must settle for a point each.

Darmstadt 0-0 Preußen Münster

Despite being in-form favourites, Darmstadt had to make do with a share of the points as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Münster on Saturday. The Lilies dominated for long stretches and had the better chances - notably through Joshua Mees and Tim Rieder - but Münster's resolutely defensive game-plan provided adequate cover for the promoted side to keep a clean sheet and claim a point. A disappointed Darmstadt, whose coach pulled out all the stops in search of a win, slip to 11th while Münster climb provisionally into the play-off spot (16th).

Eintracht Braunschweig 0-0 Jahn Regensburg

Braunschweig and Jahn Regensburg played out a goalless draw as both sides missed out on the opportunity to move away from the bottom end of the table. The two teams looked low on confidence throughout, failing to create the clear-cut chances that would lead either of them to a much-desired three points. Regensburg did end a run of two consecutive defeats with a point, while Braunschweig also bettered their result from the previous matchday - a 3-2 loss to Kaiserslautern. Both sides will be frustrated at their toothless performances, but they can both build on a point a clean sheet after losses in the previous round.