Bundesliga 2, Matchday 28 overview: Düsseldorf win 'Fortuna For All' game, HSV victorious, but St. Pauli beaten
Bundesliga 2 leaders St. Pauli lost at Karlsruhe and promotion hopefuls Hamburg beat DFB Cup finalists Kaiserslautern, before Fortuna Düsseldorf won their third free home game under the 'Fortuna For All' banner.
Karlsruhe 2-1 St. Pauli
Goals: 1-0 Franke 2', 1-1 Irvine 37' 2-1 Nebel 69'
Red card: Wahl 77'
Karlsruhe's impressive run of just one loss in their last seven games took in the impressive scalp of Bundesliga 2 leaders St. Pauli and keeps Christian Eichner's side very much in the promotion mix. Pauli had previously lost just twice in 27 second-tier fixtures this term but went behind to Marcel Franke's close-range finish after just two minutes. Jackson Irvine restored parity with his fourth goal of the campaign - a header from Marcel Hartel's corner - before Paul Nebel struck with just over 20 minutes remaining to put the hosts back in front. Things got worse for the Kiezkicker soon afterwards when Hauke Wahl was ordered off after receiving a second yellow. The result keeps Karlsruhe in sixth with six games to play, while Pauli see their league lead reduced to two points.
Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-0 Eintracht Braunschweig
Goals: 1-0 Klaus 42', 2-0 Tzolis 55'
Düsseldorf ended the weekend in the promotion play-off spot, thanks to a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Eintracht Braunschweig. Playing in their third and final trial 'Fortuna For All' free home game of the season, Die Flingeranger were grateful to see Florian Krüger spurn a great chance to put Braunschweig in front, before Fortuna's Felix Klaus did just that late in the half. Christos Tzolis added a second goal from the penalty spot to leave the visitors with it all to do, though Youssef Amyn did strike the woodwork in a spirited comeback attempt. Results elsewhere, however, mean Die Löwen drop into the relegation play-off place, with six games to go.
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Hamburg 2-1 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Bénes 34', 1-1 Ache 45+1', 2-1 Poręba 60'
Hamburg kept their promotion hopes on track with an important home win over DFB Cup finalists Kaiserslautern. FCK were fresh off of their 2-0 semi-final win over giant-killers Saarbrucken, so Friedhelm Funkel was forced into four changes, but things looked promising. Lautern could have easily taken the lead twice in the first 10 minutes, but failed to capitalise on their early momentum. For HSV, László Bénes hit the post in the 32nd minute and then made amends two minutes later. It looked like order was restored, however Ragnar Ache struck just before the break with his 15th of the season. FCK again started the second half the better of the two sides and Almamy Touré had two excellent chances for a go-ahead goal. Straight down the other end, Łukasz Poręba found the winner to leave the away side in all sorts of trouble. Kaiserslautern stay 17th in the automatic relegation zone, a point adrift of the play-off spot. HSV are a point behind the promotion play-off place, in fourth.
Nuremberg 0-4 Holstein Kiel
Goals: 0-1 Ivezić 20', 0-2 Machino 34', 0-3 Bernhardsson 43', 0-4 Remburg 79'
Holstein Kiel took another step towards promotion with a comfortable win in Nuremberg. An early red card for English winger Joseph Hungbo left Nuremburg a man down and without much hope against the second-placed visitors. A late challenge five minutes in saw a first yellow, and the second came in the 12th when Hungbo was again late on former Tottenham man Lewis Holtby. Kiel were already in control, but fully took charge after going a man up and after Ivezić's opener, and the away side were queuing up for chances. Adding two more before the break, Kiel put the handbrake on for the second period, well aware the points were secured, and it was time to start thinking ahead with automatic promotion ever closer to being clinched.
Paderborn 2-3 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Obermair 16', 1-1 Barkok 17', 2-1 Musliu 59', 2-2 Hussein 86', 3-2 Tabakovic 90'
Hertha Berlin remain in the promotion race after two late goals secured a comeback win in Paderborn. The home side carved out plenty of scoring opportunities, before Raphael Obermair broke the deadlock with a well-taken free-kick. The lead lasted barely 60 seconds, though, as Kai Klefisch's errant pass gifted Aymen Barkok the equalising goal. Paderborn continued to rack up the chances, with Visar Musliu deservedly restoring their lead, but their earlier profligacy came back to haunt them. After substitute Bilal Hussein's goal was allowed to stand following a VAR review, the in-form Haris Tabakovic finished off a swift counter with his fifth goal in three games to put Hertha in front. Sebastian Klaas had a great chance to level in the seventh minute of added time, but could not keep his shot down. Paderborn slip to mid-table, while Hertha remain hot on the heels of Hamburg & Co.
Hannover 1-1 Schalke
Goals: 0-1 Ouédraogo 17', 1-1 Seguin o.g. 81'
Schalke climbed two points clear of the bottom three after holding promotion contenders Hannover to a 1-1 draw. The Royal Blues had already gone close through Paul Seguin, when returning 17-year-old talent Assan Ouédraogo brought up the second goal of his pro career with a fine solo effort. Simon Terodde missed the chance to add a second, but Schalke continued to play the contest on their terms. A moment of misfortune brought Hannover level against the run of play, though, as Seguin put past his own keeper when attempting a defensive clearance. Nicolò Tresoldi had the chance to secure a last-gasp win that would have lifted the Reds back to within three points of third place, but Marius Müller made the stop.
Hansa Rostock 3-1 Wehen Wiesbaden
Goals: 1-0 Roßbach 51', 2-0 Pröger 72', 2-1 Prtajin 78', 3-1 Ingelsson 90'+4
Sent off: Jacobsen 52'
Hansa Rostock picked up a crucial win over Wehen Wiesbaden in their battle to avoid relegation. The game sprung to life in the second half, when Damian Roßbach headed in a free-kick to give Rostock the lead. Bjarke Jacobsen was sent off for a rash challenge on Nico Neidhart following the restart in a 60-second spell to forget for Markus Kauczinski's visitors. Kai Pröger gave Hansa a two-goal cushion, but Wehen hit back through Ivan Prtajin to set up a nervy finish. Hansa substitute John-Patrick Strauß had a goal ruled out for offside, before Svante Ingelsson wrapped up win in added time. The result lifts Rostock out of the relegation zone, level on 31 points with Wiesbaden.
Osnabrück 2-0 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Engelhart 3', 2-0 Conteh 20'
Bottom side Osnabrück gave their survival hopes a boost with a well-earned win over Greuther Fürth. Winners at Wehen Wiesbaden a week ago, the hosts made a dream start through Erik Engelhardt's third-minute goal. Jomaine Consbruch shot wide as Fürth went in search of an equaliser, but it was Osnabrück who were celebrating again with 20 minutes gone. Christian Conteh applied the finish to Bashkim Ajdini's cross, before missing a great chance to add a third. Ajdini threatened on a couple of occasions after the restart, while Dennis Srbeny spurned Greuther's most promising opening of an otherwise tepid attacking display by the faltering promotion hopefuls. Osnabrück still have six points to make up on the relegation play-off spot; Fürth are now 10 adrift of third.
Elversberg and Magdeburg failed to make much space between themselves and the relegation zone by sharing the points on Saturday. In a match between the last two third division champions, neither quite showed the level of confidence that got them to the Bundesliga 2. After creating next to nothing in the opening 45 minutes, Madeburg, who are only two points from the bottom three, came out with some fire in their bellies for the second period. The game began to open up with away substitute Bryan Teixeira seeing the best of the chances, but neither side could capitalise.
Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 28
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