Bundesliga 2, Matchday 19 highlights: Hamburg stay top after thriller at Hertha Berlin
Hamburg and Hertha Berlin served up a goal-filled spectacle in the German capital that left HSV top of the standings, while Fortuna Düsseldorf staged a comeback for the ages against Karlsruhe.
Matchday 19 results
Hertha Berlin 2-3 Hamburg
Goals: 0-1 Selke (23'), 0-2 Königsdörffer (61'), 1-2 Cuisance (72'), 2-2 Winkler (80'), 2-3 Sahiti (84')
Hamburg remain top of the Bundesliga 2 pile after a memorable five-goal thriller in Berlin. HSV appeared on course for a comfortable three points after Davie Selke's opener was followed by a sublime curling effort from Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer from the edge of the box. However, the home side rallied in the closing stages and quick-fire strikes from Michaël Cuisance and Marten Winkler set up an absorbing finale. The visitors had the final say, though, with Emir Sahiti's composed finish on the counter giving Hamburg three more points towards their promotion push.
Karlsruhe 2-3 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Kaufmann 9', 2-0 Heußer 22', 2-1 Pejčinović 47', 2-2 Kownacki 81' pen., 2-3 Kownacki 90'+3
After two early goals - including Robin Heußer's first strike for the club - Karlsruhe appeared to be on track for a first win since top scorer Budu Zivzivadze departed for Bundesliga side Heidenheim in the winter transfer window. However, super-sub Dženan Pejčinović struck early in the second half before David Kownacki levelled it up form the spot and then hit an injury-time winner. Sensational stuff from Fortuna, who climb to fifth while the hosts drop to seventh.
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Cologne 1-0 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Ljubičić 81'
Sent off: Baum 90'+3
Cologne climbed back into the automatic promotion places with a late win over Elversberg. The Billy Goats started the game as the better side, with huge chances falling to Damian Downs that weren’t taken, but Elversberg began to find joy, with Fisnik Asllani having a goal disallowed for offside in the 51st minute. Cologne thought they'd taken the lead soo after, but Linton Maina's superb strike was ruled out upon VAR review due to a foul in the build-up. Dejan Ljubičić eventually broke the deadlock for Cologne with a precision strike from the edge of the box, before Elversberg's Elias Baum was dismissed for a second yellow card.
Schalke 3-1 Nuremberg
Goals: 1-0 Karaman 7', 2-0 Sylla 15', 2-1 Tzimas 17', 3-1 Sylla 45'
Schalke set themselves up for victory with early goals from the outstanding Kenan Karaman and Moussa Sylla and, although Miroslav Klose's side hit back quickly through Stefanos Tzimas, Sylla's second stitched up the result. Karaman (11 goals) and Sylla (13) are now both in double figures for the season - a feat not matched by any other of Germany's 56 professional clubs! The result sees Nuremberg drop to 12th, while Schalke sit tight in 13th.
Greuther Fürth 2-4 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Müller (6’), 1-1 Ritter (28’), 1-2 Yokota (52’), 2-2 Hrgota (68’), 2-3 Kaloc (73’), 2-4 Ache (90’+4)
Sent off: Müller (84’), Gyamerah (86’)
Kaiserslautern maintained their promotion push after coming from behind to beat struggling Greuther Fürth. The visitors enjoyed the brighter start, but fell behind to Philipp Müller’s deflected strike. They equalised when Marlon Ritter finished off a fine move down the left, and took the lead through Daisuke Yojota at the start of an eventful second half. Branimir Hrgota hit a fine leveller for the Clover Leaves, but Filip Kaloc soon restored the Red Devils’ lead and when Müller was sent off for a tackle from behind, the game was effectively over for Fürth. Ragnar Ache struck in stoppage time to put the seal on a deserved win for 'Lautern.
Darmstadt 0-1 Paderborn
Goals: 0-1 Platte 37’
Felix Platte's poacher’s goal secured three vital points for Paderborn. The striker, who was stretchered off injured shortly after netting the decisive goal, popped up in the box from a corner to score. Overall, it was a tactically oriented game, with neither side looking to offer up any easy opportunities to their opponents. Manuel Riemann kept a clean sheet on his Paderborn debut, and Darmstadt's Jean-Paul Boëtius made his return to the pitch after winning his battle with cancer.
Hannover 2-2 Preußen Münster
Goals: 0-1 Mees 21', 1-1 Tresoldi 34', 2-1 Leopold 64', 2-2 Pick 71'
Hannover couldn't make it two wins in a row against Preußen Münster, consequently missing their chance to jump into the top four. Having started slowly by going a goal down in the opening stages, the hosts responded well, coming from behind to lead just after the hour mark. Münster came back to life and equalised just minutes later when Ron-Robert Zieler failed to hold Florian Pick's close-range effort, allowing him to tap home at the second time of asking. This result makes it four unbeaten now for the visitors, who lie three points above the relegation play-off place.
Ulm 5-1 Regensburg
Goals: 1-0 Telalović 24’, 2-0 Telalović 34’, 3-0 Telalović 45’+1, 4-0 Batista Meier pen. 55’, 5-0 Telalović 79’, 5-1 Ganaus 90’+2
Ulm scored five in a Bundesliga 2 match for the first time since 1998 as they thrashed Regensburg in this bottom-of-the-table battle. The star of the show was Semir Telalović, who completed at stunning four-goal haul after Oliver Batista Meier slotted home from the spot. The visitors were completely blown away by the Sparrows, only scoring a consolation in stoppage time with their first shot on target of the game.
Watch: Relive the top 5 goals on Matchday 19!
Click here for the latest Bundesliga 2 standings!
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