Almost demolition in Paderborn
HSV only fights for one point, Schalke trembles their way to victory
February 17, 2024, 3:32 p.m
On the 22nd matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 achieved a flattering but extremely important victory. Hamburger SV, on the other hand, leaves extremely important points with relegation candidate Hansa Rostock. The encounter between SC Paderborn and Holstein Kiel is now about to be canceled.
Hansa Rostock – Hamburger SV 2:2 (0:1)
Hamburger SV only ended the first game after coach Tim Walter’s exit in the 2nd Bundesliga with a draw and is in danger of losing touch with league leaders FC St. Pauli. Under interim coach Merlin Polzin, the Hanseatic League, who were once again vulnerable defensively, did not get beyond a 2-2 (1-0) draw in the northern duel with relegation candidate Hansa Rostock after a turbulent final phase.
In front of the 2,600 HSV fans in the Ostseestadion, attacker Robert Glatzel saved the draw in the 86th minute. Jean-Luc Dompé (34th) made it 1-0. Hansa offensive player Juan Perea (50th) deservedly equalized for Rostock, new signing Sveinn Gudjohnsen (82nd) took the lead shortly after coming on. If FC St. Pauli wins against Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday, the gap between their city rivals and HSV could grow to seven points.
The game in front of 27,500 spectators was briefly interrupted in the first half due to protests against the DFL investor deal. On Monday the club announced its separation from Walter. The Hamburg team seemed more stable in the first half than in the past few weeks, but they always gave the struggling Rostockers plenty of room for their own offensive actions. Dompé redeemed HSV after a nice individual performance.
The Baltic Sea Club fought against it. After a great chance for HSV, the Rostock team refined a well-played counterattack to score. Juan Perea equalized from close range. In the turbulent final phase, both teams scored once more.
FC Schalke 04 – SV Wehen Wiesbaden 1:0 (0:0)
FC Schalke 04 celebrated a cathartic victory in the relegation battle. After a penalty goal from Kenan Karaman (60th), Schalke, who were by no means convincing, achieved a happy 1-0 (0-0) win against newly promoted SV Wehen Wiesbaden. With 26 points, Schalke is now four points ahead of the relegation place and has moved within one point of Wiesbaden.
For Wehen’s coach Markus Kauczinski, the game on Saturday was a very special one: the Gelsenkirchen native, who started his coaching career with Schalke U16 in 1999, appeared with a team in the Veltins Arena for the first time in his 201st second division game. His team was also the better for long stretches. Until the penalty, Schalke, whose captain Simon Terodde only made his 300th second division appearance when he came on in the 61st minute, hadn’t really had much of a chance. But after Aleksandar Vukotic’s foul against Darko Curlinov, Karaman converted safely.
SC Paderborn – Holstein Kiel 0:4 (0:2)
Holstein Kiel has impressively underlined its ambitions for promotion for the first time. The Störche won 4-0 (2-0) at the in-form SC Paderborn after a promotion-worthy performance and at least temporarily drew level with leaders FC St. Pauli on points. The game was interrupted for around half an hour due to the continuous throwing of tennis balls in protest against the planned entry of an investor into the German Football League.
After their seventh win in their eleventh away game, the autumn champions are by far the strongest team abroad. After the series of the last few weeks, it will be difficult for Paderborn to intervene in the promotion race and are now six points behind third place. Finn Porath (16th) with his third and Steven Skrzybski (33rd) with his eighth goal of the season gave Kiel a 2-0 lead before the break. Marvin Schulz (52nd) and Niklas Niehoff (90th + 9) added their first goals in the second division. Paderborn’s Martin Ens saw red in his third second division game (90th + 1).
Paderborn started well, but after the first goal Kiel had the game under control. Skrzybski increased after a great pass from ex-national player Lewis Holtby. Curious: Referee Patrick Alt had to have his thigh treated almost ten minutes before the break, but was able to manage the game until the end, including the interruption and twelve minutes of stoppage time.