Elversberg moved top of Bundesliga 2 on a goal-filled Matchday 16. - © IMAGO/Sebastian Priebe

2. Bundesliga

Bundesliga 2, Matchday 16 highlights: Cologne, Paderborn and Elversberg level at the top, Darmstadt thrash Kaiserslautern

17.12.2024

Elversberg are top of Bundesliga 2 for the first time ever, tied with Cologne and Paderborn, while Darmstadt netted five against Kaiserslautern to go unbeaten in nine league games...

Matchday 16 results

Braunschweig 0-3 Elversberg
Goals: 0-1 Asslani 62’, 0-2 Asslani 78’, 0-3 Neubauer 90’+1

The first half was a cagey affair with Braunschweig the better side overall, with Rayan Philippe having multiple chances to take the lead. Elversberg made the breakthrough not long after the restart, after Fisnik Asllani pounced on a rebounded shot from substitute Muhammed Damar to give his side the lead. The two combined again just 15 minutes later, as Damar cut it back to Asslani, who rounded the keeper before slotting home from close range. Maurice Neubauer wrapped the game up in added time with a sweetly stuck left-footed effort from the edge of the box to send his side to the top of the table.

Cologne 3-1 Nuremberg
Goals: 1-0 Downs 6’, 2-0 Kainz pen. 17’, 3-0 Huseinbašić 31’, 3-1 Castrop 59’

Damion Downs brilliantly filled in for Cologne's injured top scorer Tim Lemperle as he starred in the Billygoats’ efficient 3-1 victory over Nuremberg. The Germany U20 international gave the hosts the lead with a clever near-post finish before winning a penalty which was coolly converted by Florian Kainz. Downs’ simple pass across the box for Denis Huseinbašić to tap in finished off a nice team move for Cologne’s third in just over 30 minutes. Nuremberg were unable to create any clear-cut chances until getting a goal back through Jens Castrop's long-range stunner as Cologne deservedly took all three points to move up to second in the table.

Darmstadt 5-1 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Corredor 33’, 2-0 Hornby 45’+2, 3-0 Marseiler 62’, 4-0 Hornby 73’, 4-1 Hanslik 84’, 5-1 Corredor 88’

Despite losing top scorer Isac Lidberg to injury early on, Darmstadt's attack more than stepped up to compensate as they put in a five-star performance against Kaiserslautern. Killian Corredor gave the Lilies the lead with a well-placed header before Fraser Hornby scored on the turn to double the hosts’ advantage before half-time. The visitors came out with purpose, missing a string of decent chances, but Luca Marseiler scored on the rebound to put an end to the Lautern revival, and then Hornby tapped in his second and Darmstadt’s fourth after a nice passing move. Daniel Hanslik turned the ball home from a cross to grab a consolation goal for the away side, but Florian Kohfeldt's side, who are now unbeaten in nine league matches, weren’t done there, as Corredor scored a great solo goal to complete his brace.

Schalke 1-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 0-1 Kownacki 62', 1-1 Sylla 72'

Schalke prevented Fortuna Düsseldorf from moving to the top of the table, if only temporarily, as they secured a share of the spoils. Schalke were on top for the majority of the encounter, but David Kownacki netted his fifth goal of the season to give his side the lead shortly after the hour mark. However, with his seventh shot of the clash, Sylla restored parity within 10 minutes. In the end, only a fantastic Florian Kastenmeier display stopped Düsseldorf from suffering defeat, proof of another strong Schalke display against a top side after beating Paderborn 3-0 last time out.

Ulm 1-1 Hamburg
Goals: 1-0 Keller 34', 1-1 Selke 49'
Red cards: Elfadli 68'

Hamburg were unable to close the gap to the summit of the division as they were held away at relegation-battling Ulm. The hosts put their opponents under pressure in the first half and broke the deadlock through Aaron Keller's lovely, curled strike, but Hamburg recovered to equalise through Davie Selke shortly after the interval. While Daniel Elfadli's second yellow for a foul threatened to derail them, Hamburg stood firm to leave with a point. They are now without a win in their past two games, although that run is significantly shorter than Ulm's eight-match streak without tasting victory.

Magdeburg 1-1 Paderborn
Goals: 1-0 Hercher 57', 1-1 Obermair 69'

Paderborn were given a run for their money away to Magdeburg on Saturday as they picked up a point in a 1-1 draw. They had to claw their way back into it after Philipp Hercher broke the deadlock with an opportunistic strike following an error from Boevink just before the hour-mark. Staring down the barrel of a second defeat in as many matches, Paderborn were given a lifeline when home keeper Dominik Riemann fouled Koen Koston in the area, and Raphael Obermair struck from the spot. This sharing of the points are now without a win in two, while Magdeburg slip to ninth.

- IMAGO/Franziska Gora

Greuther Fürth 1-0 Hannover
Goals: 1-0 Futkeu 83'

Hannover missed out on the chance to go top of the table as they narrowly lost a game of few chances. An appeal for a Hannover penalty when Nicolò Tresoldi went down in the box was as close as either side got to a breakthrough in the first half, and the second period was similarly devoid of opportunities until Futkeu popped up unmarked from a late corner to send the hosts up to 12th in the table.

Karlsruhe 4-2 Jahn Regensburg
Goals: 0-1 Kühlwetter pen. 19', 1-1 Zivzivadze 45'+2, 1-2 Hottmann 49', 2-2 Wanitzek pen. 56', 3-2 Zivzivadze (62'), 4-2 Schleusener 86'

Karlsruhe came out on top in this wild match, but it was far from a foregone conclusion after Regensburg twice took the lead early in the piece. However, the visitors' bid for a third win of the season fell short in the second half as Karlsruhe ran away with it, thanks notably to a brace from Georgian star striker Budu Zivzivadze. Karlsruhe climb to provisional fourth with the win, while a valiant Regensburg side remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Hertha Berlin 1-2 Preußen Münster
Goals: 1-0 Scherhant 28', 1-1 Kyerewaa 57', 1-2 Paetow 87'

Preußen Münster lifted themselves provisionally out of the danger zone with a stirring come-from behind win in Berlin, central defender Torge Paetow smashing home the winner minutes from time just as all involved seemed resigned to a 1-1 draw. It was a tough result for hosts Hertha, who had bossed the first half and taken a deserved lead through Derry Scherhant only to lose their way once super-sub Daniel Kyerewaa levelled it up for Münster just before the hour-mark.