Bundesliga 2, Matchday 22: Schalke go top as Arminia Bielefeld secure important victory
Schalke ended their barren run to reclaim top spot in Bundesliga 2 after Darmstadt dropped points against Eintracht Braunschweig. At the bottom, Arminia Bielefeld secured successive wins for the first time since August to put breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone.
Holstein Kiel 1-2 Schalke
Goals: 0-1 Karaman 16’, 0-2 Kuruçay 29’, 1-2 Zec 55’ (pen.)
Schalke returned to the Bundesliga 2 summit after securing their first win since December. Kenan Karaman opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the campaign, before Hasan Kuruçay doubled the Royal Blues’ lead. Kiel did have chances to score through John Tolkin and Adrián Kaprálik and were rewarded in the second period when David Zec converted from the spot. Despite late pressure as they pushed for an equaliser, Marcel Rapp’s side slipped to a third straight league defeat.
Magdeburg 0-2 Arminia Bielefeld
Goals: 0-1 Bauer 32’ 0-2 Boakye 88’
Magdeburg dropped into the relegation play-off position as Bielefeld picked up an important win in Sunday’s relegation six-pointer. Mateusz Zukowski came close to adding to his impressive tally for the hosts, but after withstanding early pressure, Daniel Bauer opened the scoring for Bielefeld against the run of play. It was much of the same after the break as Magdeburg dominated, but Michél Kniat’s side stood firm before doubling their lead through Benjamin Boakye to secure successive wins for the first time since August.
Bochum and Paderborn shared the points in an entertaining encounter. Paderborn dominated proceedings with Philipp Hofmann and Koji Miyoshi coming close on several occasions, but the visitors had Dennis Seimen to thank for keeping the score goalless after pulling off several important saves at the other end. It means that Uwe Rösler’s Bochum are unbeaten in nine league matches, while Paderborn fall to fifth, three points behind Schalke.
Hertha Berlin 2-3 HannoverGoals: 0-1 Tomiak 8’, 0-2 Källman 29’, 1-2 Reese 53’ (pen), 1-3 Weißhaupt 71’, 2-3 Eitschberger 90’+2
Hannover closed the gap to Darmstadt in a dramatic five-goal thriller in the capital. Boris Tomiak fired the visitors into an early lead, before Benjamin Källman doubled his team’s tally with his 13th of the campaign. After the break, Fabian Reese converted from the spot, but it took substitute Noah Weißhaupt just two minutes to restore Hannover’s advantage. Julian Eitschberger’s stoppage-time goal came too late as Hannover secured a fourth straight win.
Dynamo Dresden 1-2 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Rossipal 12’, 1-1 Mickelson 58’, 1-2 Petkov 78’
Elversberg bounced back after last week’s defeat to Hertha with victory in Dresden. The hosts, who were looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches, started strongly and took an early lead - which they carried into the break - through Alexander Rossipal. In the second half, however, Elversberg assumed control, drawing level via Nicholas Mickelson, before Lukas Petkov secured the three points 20 minutes later. Dynamo pushed back, but couldn’t find an equaliser as Elversberg claimed their first come-from-behind victory of the campaign and moved back into the top three.
Kaiserslautern 1-0 Greuther FürthGoals: 1-0 Şahin 10’
After three games without a win, Kaiserslautern returned to winning ways to keep the promotion play-off in sight. Semih Şahin’s first-half headed goal was enough to secure three points for Torsten Lieberknecht’s side, who inflicted a fourth defeat in six games on Braunschweig. With 12 games to go, the Red Devils are seven points behind the promotion play-off place, while Eintracht are only two clear of the relegation equivalent.
Eintracht Braunschweig 2-2 DarmstadtGoals: 1-0 Can Aydin 41’ (pen), 2-0 Gómez 45’+2, 2-1 Maglica 56’, 2-2 Maglica 78’
Darmstadt secured a share of the spoils after coming from behind to draw against Braunschweig. With the game evenly poised, the hosts netted twice just before the break with Mehmet Can Aydin converting from the spot, before Johan Gómez struck from close range. Matej Maglica was Darmstadt’s hero, netting a second-half brace to salvage a share of the spoils, but they were knocked off top spot by Schalke and now trail the leaders by a point.
Nuremberg 5-1 Karlsruhe
Goals: 1-0 Justvan 25’, 2-0 Justvan 28’, 3-0 Zoma 41’, 4-0 Zoma 50’, 4-1 Wanitzek 58’ (pen), 5-1 Zoma 65’
Nuremberg extended their unbeaten streak at home to eight games with a commanding victory over Karlsruhe. Showcasing their ruthlessness in the final third, Julian Justvan opened the scoring midway through the first period, before doubling his team’s tally with a ferocious effort moments later. Mohamed Alì Zoma scored a third as Miroslav Klose’s men took a deserved lead into the break, before adding a fourth shortly after. Marvin Wanitzek pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Zoma soon completed his hat-trick, leaving Christian Eichner’s side with just one win in their last 11 games.
Fortuna Düsseldorf 0-0 Preußen Münster
Fortuna Düsseldorf and Preußen Münster played out a goalless draw in Friday’s relegation six-pointer, where chances were squandered at both ends. Fortuna’s best opportunity came through Florent Muslija, who fired a free-kick straight into the wall, before Cedric Itten fluffed an excellent chance from close range. As Münster chased the opening goal, Marcel Benger saw his effort deflected narrowly over the crossbar as both teams took a share of the spoils, leaving the visitors winless in eight games, while Markus Anfang’s Düsseldorf are unbeaten in three.
Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 22
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