Eren Dinkçi concludes emotional week with a vital goal in Heidenheim’s relegation scrap
Heidenheim’s Eren Dinkçi’s scored his side’ second goal in their 2-0 win over St. Pauli on Matchday 31, showing incredible strength at a time where football will have been the least of his worries.
Dinkçi’s superb finish just under 10 minutes from time sealed the hosts’ win over relegation rivals Pauli and he rightfully received the fans’ adoration after full-time, although that was inevitable regardless of the result.
His partner, Cinja, was recently diagnosed with leukemia, making his on-field contributions to Heidenheim’s battle against the drop all the more exceptional.
Both Heidenheim and his former club Freiburg have shown their support for the couple, organising large registration campaigns for the German Bone Marrow Donor Registry (DKMS) ahead of their Bundesliga games on Matchdays 29, 30 and 31, with Cinja reliant on a stem cell donation for her treatment.
Watch: Heidenheim's fans celebrate Dinkçi
"The goal is dedicated to her [Cinja], without question," Dinkçi said. "And I hope it made her happy and gives her a bit of strength as well.
"We want to raise awareness and give as many people as possible a better chance of receiving a life-saving stem cell donation. Every single registration can make the crucial difference between hope and uncertainty."
Dinkçi’ superb late strike kept his side within touching distance of opponents Pauli in the relegation play-off spot, with Frank Schmidt’s side now four points behind the Kiezkickers following their victory. Next up for Heidenheim is a trip to league leaders Bayern Munich.
Watch: Heidenheim 2-0 St. Pauli
“It’s very emotional,” said Schmidt after the match. "But it’s also a situation that can bring the team even closer together. You can achieve anything if you stick together.”
