Bundesliga 2, Matchday 30: Schalke beat relegation-threatened Preußen Münster to move one step closer to promotion
Bundesliga 2 leaders Schalke have a big opportunity to take another step towards promotion on Matchday 30 as they host bottom side Preußen Münster. At the other end of the table, Magdeburg saw off Fortuna Düsseldorf to leave the latter struggling at the bottom.
Matchday 30 results
Schalke 4-1 Preußen Münster
Goals: 1-0 Karaman 36’, 2-0 Heuer 45’ (o.g.), 3-0 Aouchiche 51’, 4-0 Sylla 66’, 4-1 Yamada 82’
Schalke romped to a 4-1 home win against relegation-threatened Münster. Captain Kenan Karaman made the home side’s advantage count in the 35th minute, and their lead was doubled not long after, thanks to an own goal. Adil Aouchiche and Moussa Sylla both netted in the second half to secure the victory in style as Schalke extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga 2 table with just four games remaining, while Müster remain rock bottom.
Greuther Fürth 3-2 Darmstadt
Goals: 0-1 Lidberg 35’, 1-1 Futkeu 41’, 1-2 Furukawa 77’, 2-2 Futkeu 86’, 3-2 Futkeu 90’+3
Darmstadt lost further ground in the promotion race after a spirited Fürth fightback. The visitors, who started the day in fifth, took the lead after half an hour through Isac Lidberg's instinctive finish. However, their lead didn’t last long, as just before the break, Noel Futkeu equalised. Darmstadt thought they won it in the 77th minute when Yosuke Furukawa tapped the ball into the net from close range, only for Futkeu to score twice in the space of seven minutes to complete a dramatic comeback win.
Elversberg 3-0 Karlsruhe
Goals: 1-0 Pherai 26', 2-0 Pherai 53', 3-0 Zimmerschied 62'
Elversberg kept the pressure on the top two in the promotion race with a comfortable home win on Friday. Immanuël Pherai sent them on the way to victory with his first goals for the club since joining on loan from Hamburg in the winter transfer window, both of which came from fluent attacking moves. Tom Zimmerschied then smashed in a third in the second half.
Holstein Kiel 3-0 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Tohumcu 16', 2-0 Harres 36', 3-0 Zec 40'
Kiel earned a much-needed first home win under Tim Walter to ease their relegation fears a little. After an even start, Umut Tohumcu seized the momentum for the hosts by landing a rasping drive from 25 yards out, before a tidy Phil Harres shot and David Zec header put them 3-0 up at the break. They then saw out the lead comfortably in an uneventful second period.
Magdeburg 2-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Ulrich 2’, 2-0 Zukowski 16’
Magdeburg leapfrogged Fortuna Düsseldorf with an impressive win in their relegation six-pointer at the Avnet Arena. Laurin Ulrich struck inside two minutes for the hosts, with division top scorer Mateusz Zukowski doubling the advantage with his 17th goal of the season after just a quarter of an hour. The hosts had further goals in the second half ruled out for Alexander Nollenberger and Dariusz Stalmach as Alexander Ende’s debut in charge of Fortuna ended in a comprehensive defeat and leaves them at risk of dropping into the bottom three with four games to go.
Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 Nuremberg
Goals: 0-1 Zoma 8’, 1-1 Handwerker 81’
In an even match, the points were eventually shared in Bielefeld thanks to a late free-kick from former Nuremberg man Tim Handwerker. The visitors had taken the lead after just eight minutes as Mohamed Alì Zoma pounced on a defensive mix-up on halfway to race clear. Arminia battled back after the break and finally pulled level through Handwerker. Despite, several good Nuremberg chances late on, Bielefeld held out for what could be a vital point in their battle against relegation.
Dynamo Dresden 2-0 Bochum
Goals: 1-0 Ceka 5’, 2-0 Vermeij 58’
Dynamo Dresden continued their second half of the season resurgence with an important 2-0 win over Bochum to give themselves some breathing space to the relegation zone. Bochum had started well, but they found themselves a goal down on the counter through a goal from Jason Ceka. The visitors responded with a series of shots on goal, but Vincent Vermeij landed the sucker punch shortly after the break and from there, Bochum didn’t look like turning things around.
Hannover 1-1 PaderbornGoals: 0-1 Götze 40’, 1-1 Källman 78’
Promotion-chasing duo Hannover and Paderborn shared the points at Niedersachsenstadion after a close-fought contest. The visitors rode their luck in the first half, but took the lead in the 40th minute through Felix Götze's close-range finish. However, Paderborn couldn’t hold on for a vital win, as 12 minutes from time, Benjamin Källman headed Mustapha Bundu's cross into the back of the net to equalise. The result means Hannover and Paderborn remain separated by just four points in the Bundesliga 2 table.
Eintracht Braunschweig 1-1 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Reese 11', 1-1 Marie 78'
Sent off: Eichhorn 73'
Braunschweig took a point that kept them out of the automatic relegation spots but could have claimed more after a strong second-half comeback against Hertha. The visitors controlled the first half and could have been further in front after Fabian Reese turned in on the rebound after seeing an early penalty saved. The hosts were already putting Hertha under pressure before a sending off for Kennet Eichhorn, and a fine Max Marie strike secured a point.
Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 30
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