16th matchday
Freiburg loses after a late own goal in Heidenheim
Tim Kleindienst and his team turned the game around late. photo
© Harry Langer/dpa
SC Freiburg is subject to the Ostalb at the end of the year. Lucas Höler scores twice in a wild national duel, then his Freiburg colleague Matthias Ginter has a mishap.
Matthias Ginter ended up tumbling the ball over his own line (90th+2). Freiburg, who had previously won three times in a row in the Bundesliga, slipped out of the European Cup places. The upcoming break will probably come in handy because of their personnel problems.
Höler scored in front of 15,000 spectators on the Ostalb with a penalty kick in the 7th and then in the 64th minute. Eren Dinkci (52nd) and Kleindienst equalized twice for Heidenheim. Thanks to Ginter’s misfortune, the newcomer crowned his extraordinary year with another sense of achievement and is now a comfortable ten points clear of the relegation zone.
The captain extends
A few minutes before kick-off, the Heidenheimers announced the extension of their captain Patrick Mainka’s contract until 2027, but had to do without standard specialist Jan-Niklas Beste due to illness. The hosts could have used the midfielder in the first half. Slightly more dangerous stationary balls might have been an effective tool against Freiburg, who were deep for long stretches. FCH often had the ball, but didn’t have enough offensive power.
The SC, who had arrived with the last squad and only five field players on the bench, initially withdrew after the early lead through Höler. The striker hit the ball flat into the left corner after a good pass from Merlin Röhl from the right side. In the middle of the first half, Freiburg’s own corner almost flew past their ears, but FCH failed to finish the counterattack. Even with opportunities from Kleindienst (24th) and Dinkci (36th), the Swabians acted a bit too awkwardly.
Rewarded for effort
Shortly after the break, the Heidenheim team rewarded themselves for their effort. Kleindienst kept track of the unorganized guests for once and put it across, Dinkci converted nicely into the top left corner. The coaching veterans Frank Schmidt on the Heidenheimer side and Christian Streich on the Freiburg side encouraged their players with wild gesticulations – and the game continued to gain momentum. Röhl was denied by FCH keeper Kevin Müller (54′).
When Ritsu Doan made a mistake in the Heidenheim penalty area and went down in a duel with FCH defender Benedikt Gimber, referee Benjamin Brand decided on a penalty – Höler confidently converted. But the underdog struck back again from close range in the person of Kleindienst. In stoppage time, defender Ginter became a tragic figure for Freiburg.