Bundesliga 2, Matchday 28: Hamburg leapfrog Cologne into first and ‘Fortuna For All’ returns in Düsseldorf
Hamburg won easily in Nuremberg while Cologne were stunned by Hertha Berlin and Fortuna Düsseldorf edged 10-man Preußen Münster in their fourth and final free match of the season.
Nuremberg 0-3 Hamburg
Goals: 1-0 Dompé (9’), 2-0 Dompé (37’), 3-0 Glatzel (84’)
Red card: Antiste (16’)
Hamburg claimed a massive win on the road, seeing off Nuremberg, who had Janis Antiste sent off early in the first half. The visitors were already 1-0 up by that point but superiority turned to dominance thereafter. A brace for the brilliant Jean-Luc Dompé and a late header from Robert Glatzel, back on the scoresheet following a long injury lay-off, contributed to a near-perfect afternoon for the promotion chasers, who strengthen their grip on a top-two place.
Cologne 0-1 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Reese (46’)
Cologne, seeking to reclaim the top spot, welcomed an in-form Hertha side on Saturday evening. Fabian Reese caused all sorts of problems in the first 45, but the scores were level at half-time, despite Hertha’s Ibrahim Maza hitting the post just before the break. The Berliners picked up where they left off, with Reese rifling home an unstoppable shot after a lightning-fast restart from the visitors. Cologne tried to respond, but for all their efforts, they couldn’t find a leveller. Defeat means Cologne stay in second place after failing to score in a home game for the first time all season.
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Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-0 Preußen Münster
Goals: 1-0 Kownacki (15’)
Red card: Van Brederode (69’)
A run of just one win in five had seen early-season promotion favourites Düsseldorf tumble down the table, but they came out on top in front of a capacity home crowd for one of their ‘Fortuna For All’ fixtures that sees tickets given for no cost. Dawid Kownacki powered in a towering header early on and had a good chance to double the lead. Münster, beginning the day outside the bottom three on goal difference, made a real go of things, especially after Myron van Brederode’s red card, upgraded from a yellow on review, set up a lively finish at the Merkur Spielarena.
Karlsruhe 1-0 Hannover
Goals: 1-0 Kobald (54')
Karlsruhe breathed fresh life into their promotion chances thanks to a narrow victory over fellow top-three hopefuls Hannover. The away side enjoyed the better start but Karlsruhe grew into the game and looked the more dangerous of the two at the break. They continued the second half where they had left off in the first and took the lead when Christoph Kobald pounced on the reboud after Marvin Wanitzek's free-kick crashed off the crossbar. Hannover tried to respond but despite dominating much of the remainder of the game they were unable to force an equaliser.
Schalke 2-1 Ulm
Goals: 0-1 Higl (40’), 1-1 Seguin (59’), 2-1 Kamiński (88’)
Red cards: Gantenbein (86’)
A bright start from the visitors gave Ulm a narrow lead at the break, and their traveling support hope of just a fifth win of the season – one which would give their hopes of survival a major boost. The second period saw Schalke turn the game on its head. Paul Seguin scored an equaliser just before the hour mark and not even a late red card for Adrian Gantenbein could halt their comeback. Marcin Kamiński sealed all three points just two minutes from the end.
Elversberg 6-0 Jahn Regensburg
Goals: 1-0 Zimmerschied (13’), 2-0 Sickinger (36’), 3-0 Asslani (43‘), 4-0 Şahin (57‘), 5-0 Fellhauer (65‘), 6-0 Asslani (87‘)
The goals came thick and fast as midtable Elversberg who were without a win in four hosted rock-bottom Regensburg. First half injuries didn't help Jahn's case, but the hosts were relentless, taking the lead early with Tom Zimmerschied rounding off a clinical counter-attack. Another two goals were added before the break, including Fisnik Asslani's first of the afternoon. Three more goals after the restart buried Regensburg, with Asslani completing his brace late on. The 6-0 victory is Elversberg's record highest margin of victory in the Bundesliga 2.
Magdeburg 2-0 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Atik (29’), 2-0 Atik (43’)
Fifth hosted third in a classic promotion six-pointer and it was Magdeburg fans that went home happy following a potentially crucial win over direct rivals. A first-half brace from Baris Atik took the winger’s tally of goals to seven for the season and proved the difference between the sides. The win saw Magdeburg leapfrog the Red Devils into third place in the table, four points behind Cologne in the automatic promotion places. Kaiserslautern remain level on 46 points, however, so it’s still all to play for.
Eintracht Braunschweig 3-2 Paderborn
Goals: 0-1 Bilbija (26’), 1-1 Tachie (44’), 1-2 Grimaldi (48’), 2-2 Philippe (71’), 3-2 Bell Bell (78’)
Promotion contenders Paderborn started brightly, converting their initial dominance into a lead through Filip Bilbija inside half an hour. Braunschweig, battling for survival in the bottom three, responded just before the break, but the visitors regained the lead just after the restar through Adriano Grimaldi. Knowing three points would take them within two points of the top spot, Paderborn looked to hold their lead, but a quickfire double from Rayan Philippe and Leon Bell Bell turned the game in Braunschweig’s favour, snatching a win which lifts them closer to outright safety.
Darmstadt 1-0 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Lidberg (79’)
Darmstadt claimed a deserved if not brilliant win. Isac Lidberg's smart second-half finish from a sumptuous Jean-Paul Boëtius ball proved the difference for the Lillies, who take a big step towards safety with all three points. The visitors not quite out of the relegation scrap just yet either.
Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 28
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