Heidenheim promoted to Bundesliga after late spree sees off Jahn Regensburg
Heidenheim are heading to the Bundesliga as second-division champions after Frank Schmidt's side produced the most dramatic of late fightbacks to down Jahn Regensburg on the final day of the season.
Regensburg 2-3 Heidenheim
Goals: 1-0 Osei Owusu 51', 2-0 Osei Owusu 57', 2-1 Saller (o.g.) 58', 2-2 Beste (pen.) 90'+3, 2-3 Kleindienst 90'+9
Their fate in their own hands going into this final-day encounter, the visitors knew victory would see them promoted along with Darmstadt. Yet as the sun shone down on the Jahnstadion in Regensburg, it appeared the occasion was getting to the nervy visitors, who were aware Hamburg could nip in and seal promotion should Heidenheim slip up. For their part, Jahn's chances of surviving relegation were remote, even with a win. Yet it was they who took the game to the division's second-placed side and Joe Enochs' outfit almost hit the front on nine minutes when Prince Osei Owusu looked to round Kevin Müller, only for the visiting goalkeeper to thwart the striker at the last. At the other end, FCH finally came alive on the half-hour mark when Tim Kleindienst, rattled the side netting with a shot from distance.
Heidenheim raised their efforts after the restart and probably should have taken the lead when substitute Stefan Schimmer slashed wide. Yet Jahn were never going to lie down after a fine first-half showing and they took a deserved lead when Osei Owusu headed in Konrad Faber's corner. Shortly afterwards, the hosts doubled their lead and it was that man Osei Owusu again in the right place at the right time to divert a wayward Benedikt Saller effort in. With Hamburg ahead in their game against Sandhausen, Heidenheim's hopes of heading up on this particular day were slipping away. They were given a lifeline when Schimmer's weak shot was helped into the net by a combination of goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and the unfortunate Saller. With the game then heading into 11 added-time minutes, Schmidt's men levelled from the penalty spot through Jan-Niklas Beste. With all hands to the pump in the final throes, the ball suddenly dropped to Kleindienst and the second tier's leading marksman slotted home to spark scenes of wild celebration among the visiting ranks.
Match stats
- Kleindienst's winner brought him to a division topping 25 goals for the season.
- Beste ended the campaign with 12 Bundesliga 2 goals. He registered his third penalty in the division here.
- Beste also ends as Bundesliga 2's joint-leading assist provider with 12.
- After going 2-0 behind, Heidenheim recovered with a shot count of 15-0 until the final whistle.
- Osei Owusu scored seven of his nine Bundesliga 2 goals after the winter break.
- Heidenheim took poll position for the first time on the final matchday.
Teams
Regensburg: Urbig - Saller (Nachreiner 79'), Breitkreuz, Kennedy, Guwara - Thalhammer (Elvedi 72'), Gimber – Faber (Shipnoski 65'), Albers, Yildirim (Graf 79') - Owusu (Mees 73')
Unused subs: Kirschbaum, Idrizi, Singh, Schönfelder
Out: Gouras (ligament tear), Günther (thigh), Makridis (suspended)
Coach: Joe Enochs
Heidenheim: Müller - Busch, Siersleben, Mainka, Föhrenbach - Schöppner (Schimmer 46'), Maloney (Theuerkauf 55') - Pick (Sessa 35'), Thomalla (Beck 78'), Beste - Kleindienst
Unused subs: Eicher, Geipl, Burnic, Keller, Kühlswetter
Out: Qenaj (recovery training)
Coach: Frank Schmidt
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