Bundesliga 2, Matchday 32: Schalke seal promotion, Elversberg up into second
Schalke sealed promotion to the Bundesliga on Matchday 32, while Elversberg took a big win to go into second on Sunday on a pivotal weekend in Germany’s second tier…
Why were there no games on Friday?
Schalke 1-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Karaman 15’
Schalke held on for a crucial 1-0 win against Fortuna Düsseldorf to officially seal their promotion to the Bundesliga. Club captain Kenan Karaman made the breakthrough after just 15 minutes against his former club, deepening Fortuna’s relegation fears in the process. Alexander Ende’s side threatened in the second half, but couldn’t halt their run of four consecutive away matches without scoring a goal. In the end, Schalke’s clean sheet was enough to close out the win in front of their home fans, leading to ecstatic scenes at full-time.
Hannover 3-3 Preußen Münster
Goals: 0-1 Rondić 25', 0-2 Yamada 39', 1-2 Bundu 45'+1, 2-2 Bundu 45'+4, 3-2 Thórdarson 86', 3-3 Hendrix 90'+3
A pulsating encounter ended in a thrilling draw, which may have pleased neutrals but not the two teams eager to land a win for their promotion and survival bids. Bottom-of-the-table Münster raced into a two-goal lead before a brilliant quickfire Mustapha Bundu brace, while two stunning late strikes left Hannover in third and the visitors five points off safety with two matches to play.
Elversberg 5-1 Paderborn
Goals: 1-0 Rohr 4’, 2-0 Mokwa 17’, 3-0 Petkov 28’, 4-0 Petkov 41’ 4-1 Brackelmann 65’, 5-1 Adam 90’+3Sent off: Tigges 90’+5
Elversberg leapfrogged Paderborn into second following Sunday’s huge promotion six-pointer as Vincent Wagner’s charges showcased their finishing efficiency. Maximilian Rohr and David Mokwa struck early before Lukas Petkov’s brace sent the hosts comfortably ahead at the break. Calvin Brackelmann’s second-half strike was unable to kickstart a comeback for 10-man Paderborn, who, winless in three games, have lost ground in the promotion race.
Magdeburg 1-0 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Ulrich 61’
Magdeburg climbed out of the relegation play-off spot with a hard-earned victory at the Avnet Arena. Laurin Ulrich went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he struck the outside of the post with a low, long-range effort, but the Magdeburg midfielder prodded home a loose ball 16 minutes into the second half to give the hosts the lead. Hertha pushed forward late on in search of a late leveller, but Petrik Sander’s side held on.
Karlsruhe 2-1 Darmstadt
Goals: 1-0 Wanitzek 58’, 1-1 Lidberg 70’, 2-1 Fukuda 86’
Darmstadt’s faint promotion hopes came to an end at the BBBank Wildpark. Marvin Wanitzek put the home side in front with a sweetly struck free-kick shortly before the hour mark, but Lilies' top scorer Isac Lidberg nodded the visitors level just 12 minutes later. Both teams had opportunities late on, but Shio Fukuda bundled the ball home with four minutes remaining to earn Karlsruhe all three points.
Greuther Fürth 1-1 Nuremberg
Goals: 1-0 Futkeu 13', 1-1 Gruber 45+3'
Fürth moved level on points with Eintracht Braunschweig and Fortuna Düsseldrof but remain in an automatic relegation spot by viture of their goal difference after the spoils were shared in a hard-fought Franconian derby. The hosts had the better of the first period and could have doubled the early lead grabbed by Noel Futkeu before Fabio Gruber scrambled an eqauliser before the break. Both sides had good chances in the second period that went unused.
Holstein Kiel 2-0 Eintracht BraunschweigGoals: 1-0 Harres 31’, 2-0 Harres 87’
Kiel secured Bundesliga 2 safety with a 2-0 victory over struggling Braunschweig in front of their own supporters. The hosts started well and took the lead around the half-hour mark through Phil Harres and, although they were not as dominant after the interval, the latter doubled his advantage shortly before half-time. The visitors, meanwhile, struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities and therefore remain in a precarious position at the wrong end of the table.
Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 Bochum
Goals: 1-0 Grodowski 27’ (pen.), 1-1 Kwarteng 79’
The hosts dominated from the off, firing in crosses into the Bochum box, who were very passive in the opening 45 minutes. Arminia couldn’t convert from their early pressure, but did eventually win a penalty when Cajetan Lenz fouled Robin Knoche in the box. Joel Grodowski stepped up, firing past Timo Horn to give his side a deserved lead. Bochum were a different side in the second half, applying real pressure to the Bielefeld backline and they were finally rewarded for their efforts just over 10 minutes from time, when Moritz-Broni Kwarteng’s composed finish found the bottom corner.
Dynamo Dresden 1-0 KaiserslauternGoals: 1-0 Vermeij 68’
Dresden put some significant distance between themselves and the relegation zone as they picked up a narrow victory over Kaiserslautern. They were the more dangerous team throughout and finally got the goal they craved through Paul Vermeij midway through the second half. Thomas Stamm’s team have now won three out of their last four games, while Kaiserslautern have now failed to score in three successive Bundesliga 2 games for the first time in nine years.
