Bundesliga 2, Matchday 33: Holstein Kiel and St. Pauli promoted on penultimate weekend
Holstein Kiel and St. Pauli got the results they needed to secure promotion, while Fortuna Düsseldorf go into the play-off after Hamburg fall short again...
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Matchday 33 results
St. Pauli 3-1 Osnabrück
Goals: 1-0 Afolayan (7’), 2-0 Afolayan (58’), 3-0 Hartel (68’), 3-1 Kehl 90'+1)
Pauli secured promotion to the Bundesliga courtesy of a comfortable home win over relegated Osnabrück. With Kiel already up after drawing with third-placed Düsseldorf on Saturday, the hosts knew they’d follow as long as they didn’t lose. Oladapo Afolayan settled the nerves with the opening goal after seven minutes, before doubling his tally early in the second half. Afolayan then turned provider for Marcel Hartel to head in a third and put the seal on Pauli’s long-awaited return to the top flight after a 13-year absence. The party was already in full swing when Osnabrück's Lars Kehl converted a consolation penalty in added time.
Watch: Pauli secure long-awaited Bundesliga return
Holstein Kiel 1-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Pichler (2'), 1-1 Tzolis (pen. 70')
Kiel got the draw they needed against third-placed Fortuna to put them in promotion heaven! Benedikt Pichler got the league leaders off to a dream start by sinking a free header in the second minute. Fortuna had several chances in the first half but Alexander Bernhardsson missed a superb chance to double the hosts' lead before the break. A penalty to the visitors converted by Christos Tzolis with 20 minutes remaining made Kiel fret, especially when the goalscorer forced Timon Weiner into a great save with a curling drive ten minutes from time. The Storks held on though to take the decisive point and cue huge celebrations.
Watch: Kiel seal promotion with Düsseldorf draw
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Paderborn 1-0 Hamburg
Goals: 1-0 Kostons (7')
Hamburg can no longer finish in the top three, after losing in Paderborn. Koen Kostons struck early for the hosts, who looked pretty comfortable until a couple of warning shots from Jean-Luc Dompé and Anssi Suhonen whistled just off target late in the first half. Despite needing a win to keep their hopes of hauling back Fortuna Düsseldorf in the promotion play-off spot alive, HSV struggled to find any real urgency in the final third. The best chances of the second half instead fell seventh-placed Paderborn's way, with Filip Bilbija striking the woodwork and heading at goalkeeper Matheo Raab. The result means HSV will be playing Bundesliga 2 football for the seventh successive season in 2024/25.
Schalke 2-1 Hansa Rostock
Goals: 1-0 Karaman (21'), 1-1 Singh (31'), 2-1 Seguin (45'+5)
Red card: Singh 70'
Having staved off relegation by beating Osnabrück on Tuesday, Schalke made things worse for one of their former survival rivals Hansa Rostock at the VELTINS-Arena. A cagey match which started with the visitors on top really kicked off when top scorer Kenan Karaman made it 12 for the season from a corner. The temperature went up and Sarpeet Singh got Rostock back in the game with a neat piece of individual play, but Paul Seguin popped the away side's bubble when he put away the follow up from his blocked free-kick deep into injury time. The second half didn't have the same venom as the previous 45, and when goalscorer Singh saw red for a high challenge on Assan Ouedraogo, the question was then if Schalke could add a third, but even with the retiring Simon Terodde's best efforts it didn't come. Rostock are now condemned to a bottom three finish, but they would be automatically relegated with a win for Wehen Wiesbaden on Sunday.
Hertha Berlin 3-1 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Tabaković (pen. 19'), 1-1 Ritter (39'), 2-1 Dudziak (45'+3), 3-1 Reese (66')
DFB Cup finalists Kaiserslautern were full of confidence with back-to-back wins, but that was ended in the capital against Hertha Berlin. It didn't take long for Hertha to ruin Lautern's good mood through Haris Tabaković from the spot, and despite dominating, Marlon Ritter equalised before the break completely against the run of play - although it was a beautiful free-kick. The fun for Friedhelm Funkel's side didn't last long, though, as Jeremy Dudziak restored Hertha's advantage in first half stoppage time. In the second half, Reese, by far the game's most impressive and dangerous player, finally got his reward. Having hit the post in the 61st minute, he then tried his luck from range in the 66th and put the match to bed. It was a fitting tribute to departing head coach Pál Dárdai in his final home game. For FCK, they'll still be in with a chance of relegation should Wiesbaden avoid defeat on Sunday.
Nuremberg 3-0 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Lohkemper (43'), 2-0 Gyamerah (pen. 52'), 3-0 Uzun (64')
Nuremberg confirmed their Bundesliga 2 survival with victory over the already safe Elversberg and it looked like it was going to be straightforward from the off with a dominant start. However, FCN couldn't capitalise on their numerous early chances and it was the away team that had the ball in the net first, but Luca Schnellbacher was then called offside. It seemed like the match would be scoreless at half-time, but 18-year-old Turkish sensation Can Uzun had something to say about that when his outside-of-the-boot pass found Felix Lohkemper for a 43rd minute opener. Elversberg started the second period on top, but it all came crashing down with a handball from Robin Fellhauer in the 52nd minute, and Jan Gyamerah put the penalty away. Uzun then scored his 16th of the season in superb style, and the Max-Morlock-Stadion was able to finally breathe easy.
Eintracht Braunschweig 1-0 Wehen Wiesbaden
Goals: 1-0 Helgason (22')
Eintracht Braunschweig secured their place in Bundesliga 2 with a 1-0 victory at home to Wehen Wiesbaden, who remain precariously perched in the relegation play-off spot. After a bright start, Braunschweig capitalised on Wiesbaden’s inability to clear their lines from a corner as Thórir Jóhann Helgason fired past Florian Stritzel in the 22nd minute to give the home side an ideal start to this crunch game toward the bottom end of the table. The away side couldn’t find an equaliser and consequently find themselves facing a real fight to stay in the league.
Karlsruher 1-2 Hannover
Goals: 1-0 Voglsammer (19'), 1-1 Nebel (43'), 1-2 Halstenberg (65')
Lars Stindl's final home game in Karlsruher colours ended in a narrow loss to Hannover. Andreas Voglsammer opened the scoring in the 19th minute for the away side, before Paul Nebel managed to find an equaliser for Karslruher on the stroke of half time. Despite their home advantage, Karlsruher found it difficult to gain momentum and were finally undone with just under half an hour to play when Marcel Halstenberg found the bottom right corner of Max Weiss' goal. Karlsruher stay fifth, ahead of Hannover on goal difference.
Magdeburg missed the chance to secure mathematical immunity from the relegation play-off spot after playing out a goalless draw with Greuther Fürth. Home striker Amara Condé had the ball in the net with 18 minutes gone, only for the goal to be chalked off for a clear offside. Robert Wagner had Fürth's best chance of the opening 45, but could not beat Dominik Reimann from point-blank range. Andi Hoti went close for Magdeburg after the restart, before Tobian Müller made a goal-line clearance from Tim Lemperle at the other end. Dennis Srbeny shot into the side netting with the only other meaningful scoring opportunity as Magdeburg held on for a draw that keeps them six points clear of 16th place, albeit having played a game more.
Watch: Enjoy the top 5 goals on Matchday 33!
Click here for the latest Bundesliga 2 standings!
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