Hansa pushes forward
St. Pauli and Kiel continue to storm towards the Bundesliga
March 16, 2024, 3:03 p.m
FC St. Pauli is working ever closer to a return to the Bundesliga. Pursuer Holstein Kiel also collects further important points in the promotion race. Meanwhile, Hansa Rostock can continue to make up a lot of ground in the table cellar.
1. FC Nuremberg – FC St. Pauli 0:2 (0:1)
FC St. Pauli has taken the next step towards promotion to the Bundesliga. The leaders won 2-0 (1-0) at 1. FC Nürnberg on matchday 26 of the 2nd Bundesliga and are currently eleven points ahead of Fortuna Düsseldorf (43) in third place. Hamburger SV (41) could win this back on Sunday with a win against Wehen Wiesbaden. Johannes Eggestein (44th) and Marcel Hartel (62nd) sealed St. Pauli’s 15th win of the season. FCN remains in the middle of the table after two wins in a row.
In front of 45,629 fans in the Max Morlock Stadium, the Kiezkickers created an increase in chances in the first round with clear superiority, but the shots remained too harmless for a long time. That only changed shortly before half-time when Eggestein ended his drought of twelve games without a goal with a header. After the break there were signs of life from Nuremberg’s offensive. St. Pauli’s goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj defused a shot from Jens Castrop (49′). But with his 14th goal of the season, Hartel extended the lead on the other side after a counterattack.
SV Elversberg 07 – Holstein Kiel 0:2 (0:1)
Holstein Kiel is also marching further towards the Bundesliga. Coach Marcel Rapp’s team won 2-0 (1-0) at SV Elversberg and secured second place behind league leaders FC St. Pauli. Shuto Machino (39th) and Philipp Sander (49th) scored the goals in Kiel’s 15th win of the season. Newly promoted Elversberg is still in the middle of the table.
The guests took control of the game from the start and initially had a difficult time against Elversberg, who were defensively compact. The favorite hardly had any chances in the first round. Shortly before half-time, Nicolai Remberg fed Machino, who deliberately took the lead. After the change, Kiel followed up with the captain. Sander’s shot was deflected unstoppably. Before kick-off, sports director Carsten Wehlmann confirmed to Sky that Sander would be moving to Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer. Then he might meet his old club in the Bundesliga.
Hansa Rostock – SpVgg Greuther Fürth 1:0 (1:0)
SpVgg Greuther Fürth suffered their third defeat in a row with a 0-1 (0-1) draw at relegation candidate Hansa Rostock. Coach Alexander Zorniger’s team is falling further behind in the fight for promotion. Hansa Rostock climbs to 16th place in the table thanks to the victory in front of 24,500 spectators in the Ostseestadion. Rostock’s Nico Neidhart scored the goal of the day in the 40th minute.
Both teams put their opponents under pressure early on. After a cross from Simon Rhein to Svante Ingelsson (30th), Rostock came dangerously in front of the Fürth goal for the first time with a header, but goalkeeper Jonas Urbig was able to parry the shot, which was too central. Rostock slowly gained the upper hand, became more dominant and took the lead after a cross pass from Ingelsson directly in front of the baseline through the free-standing Neidhart. Rostock also remained dangerous in the second half: Kevin Schumacher (57th) put a header just wide of the goal. On the other side, goalkeeper Markus Kolke’s save prevented Armindo Sieb from equalizing (70th), who missed another opportunity in the 77th minute.