Jan Schöppner's double earns Heidenheim crucial win at Cologne
Heidenheim beat Cologne 3-1 to secure a huge three points away from home and continue their incredible push for survival, which will go down to the final day.
Cologne 1-3 HeidenheimGoals: 0-1 Schöppner 8' (assist: Ibrahimović), 1-1 Bülter 10' (assist: Krauß), 1-2 Ibrahimović 28', 1-3 Schöppner 72' (assist: Dinkçi)
With Bundesliga survival on the line, Heidenheim travelled to Cologne knowing that only a win would keep their hopes alive ahead of the final day.
Cologne, who had already secured their own top-flight status, made three changes from their 2-2 draw at Union Berlin.
Dream start for Heidenheim
The visitors wasted no time in making their intentions clear. In the eighth minute, Arijon Ibrahimović capitalised on a Cologne error in possession on the left flank, delivering a precise cross into the box where Schöppner attacked brilliantly to head home and give the visitors a dream start.
Cologne responded almost immediately as Tom Krauß played a lovely through-ball into the box for Marius Bülter, who fired the ball over Frank Feller and into the far corner to level matters in the 10th minute.
Ibrahimović restores the lead
The match continued at a breathless pace. Both sides created chances, with Saïd El Mala going close for Cologne and Budu Zivzivadze threatening for the visitors. In the 28th minute, Heidenheim regained the lead as Eren Dinkçi drove into the penalty area before the ball broke to Ibrahimović, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected off Kristoffer Lund and crept into the net.
Dinkçi was booked in the 30th minute for a foul on Joël Schmied, and Zivzivadze also received a yellow card in the 37th minute. Cologne's Marvin Schwäbe produced a fine save to deny Marvin Pieringer just before the break, ensuring the sides went in at half-time with Heidenheim leading 2-1.
Cologne push but Heidenheim hold firm
The hosts dominated possession in the second half, with 63 percent of the ball, and pressed for an equaliser.
Heidenheim remained dangerous on the counter, with Schöppner going close in the 62nd minute before Ibrahimović was denied by Schwäbe. Alessio Castro-Montes and Florian Kainz came on for Cologne in the 71st minute, with Kainz making his final home appearance before retiring at the end of the season.
Schöppner seals it with a second
Any hopes of a Billy Goats comeback were extinguished in the 72nd minute. Dinkçi played a clever one-two with Schöppner, who received the return pass and finished calmly into the net to make it 3-1 and notch his first Bundesliga brace.
Feller then produced a superb save to deny Bülter's header, and Castro-Montes headed narrowly wide as the hosts pressed in vain.
Despite six minutes of added time, Heidenheim held on comfortably for a 3-1 victory.
Man of the Match: Jan Schöppner
Schöppner was the standout performer on the day, earning the Man of the Match award with 56 percent of the votes.
The Heidenheim midfielder's brace saw him heading in the opener in the eighth minute and then finishing coolly for the third goal in the 72nd minute, marking his first Bundesliga brace.
He also led all players with 14 challenges won and was a constant threat throughout, combining effectively with Dinkçi and Ibrahimović in Heidenheim's attacking play.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Cologne 2.0 - Heidenheim 1.71
Fastest player: Saïd El Mala (Cologne), 35.49 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Marius Bülter (Cologne), 4 percent
Most pressed player: Jakub Kamiński (Cologne), 21 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Marvin Schwäbe (Cologne), +3.55
Fantasy Heroes: Jan Schöppner (Heidenheim, 416 Points), Arijon Ibrahimović (Heidenheim, 341 Points), Frank Feller (Heidenheim, 260 Points)
