Honsak double helps Heidenheim end winless run against Union Berlin
Heidenheim earned their first Bundesliga win in 16 matches as Mathias Honsak's first-half double helped them defeat Union Berlin 3-1, reigniting their survival hopes.
Heidenheim 3-1 Union BerlinGoals: 1-0 Honsak 9’ (assist: Pieringer), 2-0 Honsak 36’ (assist: Mainka), 2-1 Querfeld 75’ (assist: Khedira), 3-1 Zivzivadze 79’
Bottom club Heidenheim came into this fixture in desperate need of points in their quest to stay amongst the elite, though they had shown signs of life with draws against Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach in their previous two outings.
Frank Schmidt's side still sat nine points adrift of the relegation play-off spot, but history was on their side against Union, having won the last three meetings between the sides. The visitors, meanwhile, came into the match with a chance to move into the top half of the table.
Union started brightly, with Derrick Köhn missing a glorious opportunity in the second minute, firing over from close range after being set up by Oliver Burke. But it was the hosts who struck first in the ninth minute when Mathias Honsak volleyed home from close range after excellent work from Marvin Pieringer, who delivered a perfect ball into the box. The goal settled any nerves for the home side, who grew in confidence as the half progressed.
Heidenheim continued to look dangerous, with Marnon Busch firing narrowly wide in the 18th minute. Union struggled to create clear chances despite having periods of possession, and they were punished again in the 36th minute. Busch's long throw was flicked on by Patrick Mainka, and Honsak was again on hand to volley home from close range for his second goal. The clinical finishing from Heidenheim - scoring twice from just three attempts on target - gave them a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
Union coach Steffen Baumgart made changes as the second half progressed, bringing on Tom Rothe and Tim Skarke after 62 minutes, followed by Ilyas Ansah and Livan Burcu seven minutes later. The visitors began to create more pressure, with Andrej Ilić forcing a strong save from Diant Ramaj in the 74th minute. From the resulting corner, Union finally broke through as Leopold Querfeld hammered home after some penalty box pinball to make it 2-1 and give the visitors hope.
But just four minutes later, Heidenheim extinguished that hope when substitute Budu Zivzivadze, who had replaced Schimmer just ten minutes earlier, produced a fantastic finish into the top corner to restore the two-goal advantage.
It was a killer blow for Union, who despite their efforts couldn't find a way back into the match. There was still time for a historic moment in the 84th minute, as Linus Güther came on to make his Bundesliga debut at 16 years and three days old - becoming the second-youngest player in Bundesliga history after Youssoufa Moukoko.
Ultimately, though, that change did not change the destination of the points as Heidenheim extended their unbeaten run against Union to 12 league matches. Steffen Baumgart's men, meanwhile, must wait a little longer to guarantee their status in the top flight for next season, as they remain seven points clear of the bottom three with five games to play.
Player of the Match: Mathias Honsak
Honsak produced a match-winning performance for Heidenheim, scoring both first-half goals that set his team on the path to victory. The Austrian midfielder showed excellent positioning and finishing ability for both strikes, converting from close range with well-timed volleys. Beyond his goals, Honsak was a constant threat with his movement and pace, clocking a top speed of 34.57 km/h. He was consistently involved in Heidenheim's attacking play, even while being placed under pressure 11 times by the Union defence. His contribution was vital in ending Heidenheim's winless run in the Bundesliga.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Heidenheim 1.95 - Union Berlin 1.02
Fastest player: Oliver Burke (Union), 36 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 3-1 by Budu Zivzivadze (Heidenheim), 9.5 percent
Most pressed player: Alex Král (Union), 15 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Eren Dinkçi (Heidenheim), +1.28
Fantasy Heroes: Mathias Honsak (Heidenheim, 354 Points), Patrick Mainka (Heidenheim, 321 Points), Leopold Querfeld (Union, 335 Points)
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