2nd league
Heidenheim shoots on direct promotion place
Heidenheim presented with a victory in Hanover in the promotion race. photo
© Swen Pförtner/dpa
Heidenheim impresses with efficiency in the promotion battle of the 2nd Bundesliga at Hannover 96. The top scorer has scored again.
1. FC Heidenheim has climbed a direct promotion place in the 2nd Bundesliga for the time being. Coach Frank Schmidt’s team won 3-0 (3-0) at Hannover 96 and overtook Hamburger SV (53) with 54 points. The Hanseatic League are guests at 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
Jan-Niklas Beste (31st minute), striker Tim Kleindienst (35th) with his 21st goal of the season and Denis Thomalla (45th + 4) scored for Heidenheim. Hannover 96 missed a penalty kick by Maximilian Beier (82nd) and remains in the middle of the table with 34 points after just one win from eleven games in the second half of the season.
The hosts started with a lot of force in front of 25,200 spectators after the many setbacks such as the 1:6 at Hamburger SV or the 0:1 in the derby at Eintracht Braunschweig. A shot by Derrick Köhn hit the underside of the bar after six minutes.
Heidenheim unsure at first, then efficient
Heidenheim initially seemed a bit unsure after the bitter 1-0 draw against St. Pauli last Saturday. Then the candidate for promotion showed his efficiency: With the first shot on goal, Beste put his team in the lead. With the second chance, striker Kleindienst increased the lead to 2-0 with a lob over 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler just four minutes later after best preparatory work. The guest also used the third opportunity mercilessly: Thomalla headed in shortly before the break after a corner kick to make it 0:3 from a 96 perspective.
Hannover tried to get back into the game after the break and were unlucky again. Heidenheim’s Florian Pick saved a Phil Neumann header just before the line (54′). In the final phase, Beier missed the greatest chance to make it 3-1: the U20 international failed to take a penalty from FCH keeper Kevin Müller (82′).