Bundesliga 2, Matchday 31: Schalke on brink of promotion after comeback win at Paderborn
Schalke came from behind to beat second-placed Paderborn in a five-goal thriller and extend their league lead on Matchday 31, putting them within another win of sealing promotion.
Matchday 31 results
Paderborn 2-3 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Curda 13', 2-0 Marino 26', 2-1 Ljubicic 35', 2-2 Aouchiche 40', 2-3 Ljubicic 83'
Schalke raced back from two goals down to complete a stunning comeback at second-placed Paderborn and take a step closer to returning to the Bundesliga. The hosts put themselves on course to snatch top spot thanks to Laurin Curda's stunning volley and Stefano Marino's second goal, but the visitors raced back to level at the end of a thrilling first half. Dejan Ljubicic then completed his brace in a tense second half to send Schalke six points clear at the summit and needing just three more points to seal promotion.
Darmstadt 3–3 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Pfeiffer 14‘, 2-0 Hornby 15‘, 2-1 Zimmerschied 26‘, 2-2 Rohr 34‘, 2-3 Petkov 45+2‘, 3-3 Hornby 51‘
Sent off: Pfeiffer 44‘
Both sides needed a win before this game, with Elversberg aiming to retain third spot and Darmstadt looking to stay close to it. That led to a five-goal first half, in which the Lilies scored two quickfire goals through Patric Pfeiffer and Fraser Hornby, before the visitors pulled themselves level via Tom Zimmerschied and Maximilian Rohr. Pfeiffer was then dismissed for bringing down David Mokwa, with Lukas Petkov firing home the resulting free-kick. Despite their man disadvantage, the hosts levelled six minutes into the second half through Hornby, putting Elversberg under real pressure before the visitors regained a foothold.
Preußen Münster 2-3 Arminia BielefeldGoals: 1-0 Bouchama 2’, 1-1 Momuluh 11’, 1-2 Uldrikis 16’, 1-3 Corboz 34’, 2-3 Großer o.g. 86’
Despite taking the lead after just two minutes thanks to Yassine Bouchama’s header, Münster slipped to a damaging defeat at home to relegation rivals Bielefeld. Monju Momuluh provided the equaliser after 11 minutes before Roberts Uldrikis gave the visitors the lead five minutes later. Mael Corboz then produced a superb, improvised finish to make it 3-1 at half-time. Maximilian Großer’s late own goal gave Preußen renewed hope, but in the end, it was too little too late.
Karlsruhe 1-3 HannoverGoals: 0-1 Bundu 18’, 1-1 Schleusener 44’, 1-2 Oudenne 82’, 1-3 Yokota pen. 90’ +10
Hannover picked up three vital points in their quest for promotion as they overcame a spirited Karlsruhe. Mustapha Bundu opened the scoring for Hannover after 18 minutes, but the visitors were pegged back just before the break by Fabian Schleusener’s equaliser. Both sides then went in pursuit of the win, and it was Hannover that eventually took the lead after 82 minutes thanks to a neat goal from Kolja Oudenne. The visitors were then given a penalty late in stoppage time, and although Stefán Teitur Thórdarson was denied initially, a retake was ordered that Daisuke Yokota converted confidently.
Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1 Dynamo Dresden Goals: 1-0 Itten 11’, 2-0 Iyoha 17’, 3-0 Raimund 58’, 3-1 Lemmer 90’
Düsseldorf closed the gap to relegation rivals Dresden with a clinical display to secure their first win in six games. Cedric Itten’s 13th strike of the season sent Alexander Ende’s charges on their way with a deft chip after goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier’s defence-splitting assist before Emmanuel Iyoha doubled his side’s tally. Luca Raimund added a third before Jakob Lemmer denied Fortuna – who move to within one point of Dresden – a clean sheet.
Nuremberg 1-0 Magdeburg
Goal: 1-0 Lubach 45’+2
Rafael Lubach’s strike on the stroke of half-time earned Nuremberg a crucial win, but Miroslav Klose’s men will have to wait another week before securing their Bundesliga 2 status after wins for both Eintracht Braunschweig and Düsseldorf. With Mateusz Zukowski suspended, Magdeburg failed to carry a goal threat and fell to a second successive away defeat.
Kaiserslautern 0-2 Eintracht BraunschweigGoals: 0-1 Alidou 14’, 0-2 Yardımcı 72’
Bochum 2-1 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Hofmann 1’, 2-0 Hofmann 56’, 2-1 Futkeu 88’
Bochum put distance between themselves and Fürth despite a late scare. Philipp Hofmann sent Uwe Rösler’s charges on their way, opening the scoring inside the first minute before Branimir Hrgota and Noel Futkeu came close for the visitors. Hofmann doubled his team’s tally shortly after the break with his seventh goal in six games, rising highest to head home from a corner. Futkeu’s late strike proved nothing more than a consolation as the Ruhr club went six points clear of Fürth, who now occupy 17th.
Hertha Berlin 0-1 Holstein KielGoals: 0-1 Therkelsen 63‘
Kiel extended their unbeaten run to five in the league with a narrow 1-0 victory over Hertha in the capital. Despite registering a season-high 23 shots on goal, Hertha could not break down a resolute Kiel defence. Josip Brekalo’s opener was disallowed for offside inside the first minute before the awarding of a first-half stoppage-time penalty was rescinded by the VAR. The Storks then introduced Jonas Therkelsen at the interval – a decision which would prove inspired as the Norwegian fired in the only goal of the game to help Kiel move further clear of the drop zone.
Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 31
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