Bundesliga 2, Matchday 2 highlights: Hertha strike late to deny Hamburg, Paderborn stay perfect
Jonjoe Kenny was Hertha's hero in Hamburg, but Paderborn top the table with the division's only 100% record after two games.
Hamburg 1-1 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Königsdörffer 11', 1-1 Kenny 86'
HSV failed to build on an impressive opening-day win against Cologne as they were held by battling Hertha at the Volksparkstadion. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer was Hamburg's two-goal hero on Matchday 1 and the forward was at it again here, netting the opening goal of an absorbing contest. Yet Hertha fought their way back into the contest and, after surviving a scare when Hamburg struck the inside of a post, the capital club levelled late on through Jonjoe Kenny to pick up their first point of the campaign.
Paderborn 3-1 Darmstadt
Goals: 0-1 Vilhelmsson (7'), 1-1 Klaas (53), 2-1 Bilbija (64'), 3-1 Ansah (83')
Paderborn are top of the Bundesliga 2 and the only side with a 100% record. After an early setback due to Oscar Vilhelmsson's strike (7'), the team from East Westphalia turned it around and deservedly equalised through Sebastian Klaas (53') after the break. Filip Bilbija (64') and Ilyas Ansah (83') then clinched the well-deserved home win.
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Nuremberg 3-1 Schalke
Goals: 0-1 Cissé (45+1'), 1-1 Schleimer (47'), 2-1 Jander (56'), 3-1 Lubach (77')
Red cards: Schallenberg (45+4'), Jander (66')
Miroslav Klose got a first Bundesliga 2 win as Nuremberg boss on his home debut, but must have gone through a rollercoaster of emotions once again. The FIFA World Cup winner saw his team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose to Karlsruhe on Matchday 1, and he must have feared the worst when Ibrahima Cissé put Schalke ahead in first-half stoppage time. Ron Schallenberg's second yellow card of the game just minutes later gave the hosts hope going into the break, and they quickly turned the game around thanks to goals from Lukas Schleimer and Caspar Jander with Nuremberg's first two shots on target. Jander was then sent off for a second bookable offence of his own, but Rafael Lubach game off the bench to add a third and give Der Club their first-ever second-tier points against Schalke in five attempts.
Watch: Nuremberg delight in downing Schalke
Elversberg 2-2 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Huseinbašić (22'), 1-1 Asllani (46'), 2-1 Schmahl (62'), 2-2 Hübers (84')
Relegated Cologne picked up a first point of the season despite letting slip the lead afforded them by Denis Huseinbašić's first senior goal since May 2023. Half-time substitute Fisnik Asllani had been on the pitch just seconds when he netted the leveller immediately after the restart before crossing for another man brought on at the break, Frederik Schmahl, to tap in the second. But Cologne captain Timo Hübers headed home six minutes from time - also for his first goal since May 2023 - to secure a point for Gerhard Struber's men.
Kaiserslautern 2-2 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 0-1 Green (31'), 0-2 Futkeu (38'), 1-2 Hanslik (45'+1), 2-2 Ache (84')
Greuther Fürth appeared to be on course to pick up their second win of the season on Friday evening, only to be pegged back late on by Kaiserslautern. Quickfire goals from Julian Green and Noel Futkeu put the Clover Leaves ahead, but the hosts gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Daniel Hanslik pulled one back. The Red Devils dominated after the break, but it wasn't until the closing stages that they managed to grab a point when substitute Ragnar Ache's deflected strike hit the net.
Braunschweig 1-3 Magdeburg
Goals: 0-1 Kaars (13'), 0-2 Kaars (55'), 0-3 Gnaka (59'), 1-3 Philippe (67')
Braunschweig already look to be in some trouble after following up their 5-1 Matchday 1 loss to Schalke with a worrying home defeat. Martijn Kaars (13', 55') struck twice and Silas Gnaka (59') netted the visitors' first goals of the season before Rayan Philippe responded (67'). Magdeburg are unbeaten on four points.
Regensburg 1-0 Ulm
Goals: 1-0 Kother (34')
Regensburg got off the mark in 2024/25 thanks to a narrow victory over fellow promoted side Ulm, who suffered their second defeat in as many games. In a first half that lacked clear-cut chances, Dominik Kother’s close-range volley proved to be decisive. The visitors, who won the 3. Liga last season, were much improved after the interval but were unable to break down a stubborn Regensburg defence.
Fortuna Düsseldorf 0-0 Karlsruhe
Düsseldorf failed to score for the first time in 20 BL2 games as they were held by a Karlsruhe side that showed a different kind of resilience to that displayed in coming back to beat Nuremberg on Matchday 1. Felix Klaus went close in the first half for the hosts, while Fabian Schleusener had the ball in the net for the visitors but his strike was ruled out for offside.
Ron-Robert Zieler kept a clean sheet for Hannover, who are yet to concede a goal this season. But Münster, who were beaten on Matchday 1, had the better chances. Jessic Ngankam could have snatched it for the visitors late on, but hit the crossbar from close range.
Watch: The top 5 goals on Matchday 2
Click here for the latest Bundesliga 2 standings!
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