VfB Stuttgart and 1. FC Heidenheim draw after a highly entertaining game. A goal in the last second tied the score.
1. FC Heidenheim plays 3:3 (0:1) at VfB Stuttgart. After a 2-0 lead, VfB already looked like the sure winner. Serhou Guirassy (41′) and Angelo Stiller (53′) had put VfB in the lead. An own goal from VfB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel secured the goal in the 63rd minute. Then Tim Kleindienst turned the game in Heidenheim’s direction with two goals within a short period of time (84th and 85th). VfB secured the final point with a last-second equalizer from Deniz Undav (90+8). VfB is still in third place in the table with 57 points. Heidenheim is eleventh in the Bundesliga table with 30 points.
VfB fans protest against power struggle
In front of 60,000 spectators in the sold-out Stuttgart Arena, the supposedly first goal for the home team was not long in coming. Serhou Guirassy was just offside after a pass from Deniz Undav, and referee Felix Zwayer withdrew the goal after consulting with the video referee (8th). The game was then interrupted for a few minutes as VfB Stuttgart fans protested with banners and pyrotechnics the power struggle in the club’s leadership team protested. A little later Undav appeared free in front of the Heidenheimer Tor. FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller was able to defuse the national player’s shot (13th). Müller was also able to parry a header from Guirassy in the 17th minute.
Guirassy scores late in the first half
After the lively opening phase, VfB continued to play, but there were no clear chances to score thanks to Heidenheim’s compact defense. In the 26th minute the guests went on the offensive for the first time. After a dirty back pass from Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstädt, Heidenheim striker Tim Kleindienst was able to win the ball and run towards the hosts’ goal. VfB captain Waldemar Anton cleared up the situation when he cleared Kleindienst’s cross pass to Marvin Pieringer for a corner.
Anyone who believed that the Heidenheimers would now become more offensive was disappointed. VfB continued to dominate the game. In the 39th minute, Chris Führich was again denied by the strong Müller. Two minutes later the Heidenheim keeper was overcome. After great interaction with Undav, Angelo Stiller found Guirassy with a cross pass that was worth seeing. He just had to push the ball over the goal line from close range (41′). The first half was completed by a brilliant performance by VfB goalkeeper Nübel. At the last second, he tipped the ball off the foot of Jan-Niklas Beste, who had broken through, and thus prevented the equalizer (45th).
Stiller with a debut goal for Stuttgart – Nübel with a curious own goal
As in the first half, it only took eight minutes in the second half until the ball found its way into the Heidenheim goal net – but this time the goal counted. The strong Angelo Stiller was served by Undav with a perfect pass and was able to beat Müller from 14 meters (53′). For Stiller it was the first goal for VfB. He rounded off his strong performance with the goal.
The two-goal lead for the hosts only lasted about ten minutes. In the 62nd minute, VfB goalkeeper Nübel made a big mistake when he dropped an actually harmless header from Tim Kleindienst. The game equipment rolled over the goal line to make it 1:2. As a result, Heidenheim had a little more of the game and Stuttgart seemed unsettled. However, the guests from Ostalb did not create any clear chances to score; instead, the post prevented the preliminary decision in Stuttgart’s favor after a shot by substitute Silas (74th).
Small service madness in Stuttgart – Undav equalizes at the last second
Ten minutes later Kleindienst equalized the game. Beste crossed strongly to the free-standing striker, who finished technically well at the far post and beat Nübel. And things got even worse for VfB a short time later, as Heidenheim turned the game around through Kleindienst. This time Eren Dinkci crossed into the Stuttgart penalty area. There Kleindienst prevailed against Anton and scored with a header to give Heidenheim the lead. Deep into stoppage time, Heidenheim’s Nikola Dovedan was shown a red card when he tried to secure the ball at the corner flag and hit Mittelstädt with his tackle (90th +6). A tough decision from Zwayer.
A little later, VfB was able to secure a point with the last action of the game. Mittelstädt hit a long ball into Heidenheim’s penalty area, where Undav flicked it down with his back to the goal. With the last shot of the game, the striker hit the far corner of the Heidenheim goal to make the final score 3-3 (90. +8).
Stuttgart now against Dortmund, Heidenheim welcomes Bayern
VfB Stuttgart has their top game against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday (April 6th, 6:30 p.m.). Heidenheim welcomes FC Bayern Munich on the same day (3:30 p.m.).
Broadcast on Sunday, March 31, 2024, 10:05 p.m., SWR Sport, SWR