Heidenheim kicked off the second half of their season with a crucial 2-0 victory over Union Berlin, ending their winless streak thanks to goals from debutant Frans Krätzig and Adrian Beck. Union's Tom Rothe is sent off in the first half as Steffen Baumgart's debut ended in disappointment.

Heidenheim 2-0 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Krätzig 17’ (assist: Scienza), 2-0 Beck 83’
Red card: Rothe 37’

The clash at the Voith-Arena saw Heidenheim's new signings make an immediate impact, while Union's struggles continued, extending their winless run to nine matches. With both teams desperate for points, the game was poised to be a tense encounter.

Losing away at Heidenheim was not the start to life at Union that Baumgart would've wanted. - Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Krätzig breaks the deadlock

The first half saw Union start brightly, with Jordan coming close in the eighth minute as his shot rattled the crossbar. However, it was Heidenheim who struck first. In the 17th minute, Krätzig announced his arrival at the club in style, finishing coolly from a Léo Scienza assist to put the hosts 1-0 up. The match took another turn in the 28th minute when Scienza was forced off due to injury, with Sirlord Conteh coming on as his replacement. The substitute made an immediate impact, as in the 37th minute, Union's Rothe received a straight red card for bringing down Conteh who was through on goal.

Rothe receives a red card, a pivotal moment that shifted the balance of the match - IMAGO/Eduard Martin

About the players

13

Frans

Krätzig

1. FC Heidenheim 1846

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Heidenheim capitalise on advantage

The second half saw Heidenheim assert their numerical advantage, dominating possession and creating several chances. Union, despite being a man down, showed resilience and threatened on the counter-attack. In the 56th minute, Tim Skarke, a former Heidenheim player, tested Kevin Müller with a powerful shot, but the goalkeeper was equal to it. However, Union's hopes were dashed in the 83rd minute when Beck pounced on a rebound from a Budu Zivzivadze shot to double Heidenheim's lead. The goal effectively sealed the match, giving Heidenheim a crucial 2-0 victory and three valuable points in their fight for Bundesliga survival.

Beck celebrates his goal that sealed the victory for Heidenheim, capping off a dominant second-half performance. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Roger Buerke

Player of the Match: Sirlord Conteh

Conteh emerged as the game-changer for Heidenheim, despite not starting the match. Introduced in the 28th minute due to Scienza's injury, Conteh's impact was immediate and lasting. His pace and direct running caused constant problems for the Berlin defence all afternoon, culminating in the red card incident that turned the tide of the match. Conteh's speed was unmatched on the pitch, clocking a top speed of 34.68 km/h. His ability to stretch the play and create opportunities for his teammates was crucial in Heidenheim's dominant second-half performance.

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Heidenheim 2.14 - Union 1.16
Fastest player: Sirlord Conteh (Heidenheim), 34.68 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Frans Krätzig (Heidenheim), 23 percent
Most pressed player: Benedict Hollerbach (Union), 23 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Adrian Beck (Heidenheim), +2.11

Fantasy Heroes: Patrick Mainka (Heidenheim, 267 Points), Omar Traoré (Heidenheim, 259 Points), Frans Krätzig (Heidenheim, 252 Points)

About the clubs

1. FC Heidenheim 1846

Voith-Arena

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei