Fortuna Düsseldorf has secured important points in their battle against relegation, despite SV Elversberg’s draw. Meanwhile, the relegation of Preußen Münster from the 2. Bundesliga has been confirmed.
SV Elversberg still holds its fate in its own hands: a victory next Sunday (3:30 PM/Sky) at home against bottom-placed Preußen Münster would, due to a significantly better goal difference, most likely secure promotion. Their pursuers had previously dropped points – SC Paderborn on Friday in a 2-2 draw against Karlsruher SC, and Hannover 96 on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum.
However, Elversberg failed to capitalize on the opportunity in front of 3,000 travelling fans. An own goal by Le Joncour (26th minute) and goals from Cedric Itten (44th/51st minute) postponed the decision on who will follow second-division champions Schalke 04 directly into the Bundesliga. An own goal by Tim Oberdorf (90+1 minute) did not help the visitors. Düsseldorf, on the other hand, secured big points in the relegation fight.
The hosts initially dominated possession. However, they struggled to make much of their ball control, with a shot from Emmanuel Iyoha being their only attempt for a long time (16th minute). Elversberg played cautiously, initially focusing on not falling behind. This proved to be a complete failure: after a cross from Marin Ljubicic, Le Joncour deflected the ball off goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof’s leg, from where it bounced into his own net.
The goal had a brief effect, after which the guests became more active. A header from David Mokwa, from an offside position, was parried away by Fortuna goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier with a spectacular save (31st minute). Otherwise, Düsseldorf blocked all shot attempts and countered successfully: Itten headed in a cross from Shinta Appelkamp to make it 2-0. The pattern continued after the break: Fortuna exploited another counter-attack through Itten. Kristof slipped while coming out, as did many of his teammates throughout the match.
Bad news for Fortuna: Itten will miss the crucial matchday 34 basement duel against Fürth due to a yellow card suspension, which he picked up when the score was 3-0. This is a significant blow.
Preußen Münster Becomes First Second-Division Relegation
Preußen Münster is confirmed as the first team to be relegated from the 2. Bundesliga. Coach Alois Schwartz’s team could only manage a 1-1 draw (1:1) at home against Darmstadt 98 after a long period playing with ten men on Sunday. They have no chance of survival on the final matchday next weekend, being at the bottom of the table.
Two years after promotion, Münster will once again face relegation to the 3. Liga. Last season, Preußen narrowly avoided relegation in 15th place. Alexander Ende was then appointed as the new coach in the summer. In mid-March, Münster, then in 16th place, decided to make a change, but the hoped-for turnaround did not materialize under Ende’s successor, Schwartz.
Münster remains winless in their sixth league match under the new coach against Darmstadt. Shin Yamada (8th minute) initially fueled hopes of clinging to their minimal chance of survival with an early lead. However, after Isac Lidberg equalized (15th minute), Münster made life difficult for themselves.
Captain Jorrit Hendrix (28th minute) was sent off with a red card after a harsh tackle on Darmstadt’s Killian Corredor. Darmstadt then took control with an extra player. Although Preußen goalkeeper Johannes Schenk saved a penalty he conceded himself against Lidberg (37th minute), Münster was far from mounting a comeback in the second half.
Defeat Against Hertha BSC: Greuther Fürth Misses Too Many Chances
SpVgg Greuther Fürth is on the verge of dropping into the 3. Liga. On the penultimate matchday, the Franconian team squandered numerous chances against Hertha BSC, losing 1-2 (0-0). They are now doomed to win in their league finale next Sunday (3:30 PM/Sky) against direct competitors Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Berlin’s top talent, the 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn (55th minute), scored to make it 1-0, becoming the youngest ever 2. Bundesliga goalscorer. Michael Cuisance (84th minute) extended the lead, and the guests’ goal by Noel Futkeu (88th minute) came too late. The Berliners played with ten men for a long time after Josip Brekalo (32nd minute) received a red card for a professional foul.
With 34 points, the «Kleeblatt» (Greuther Fürth) sits in the relegation zone in 17th place before the final game. Arminia Bielefeld occupies the relegation play-off spot in 16th with two more points. Ahead of them are Eintracht Braunschweig and Düsseldorf, who both defeated SV Elversberg on Sunday (37 points each).
Fürth, on the other hand, is fighting to avoid starting in the third tier for the first time since the 1996/1997 season, when the club still played in the Regionalliga Süd. For Berlin, who had already lost their chance of promotion to the Bundesliga, this was their first win after four consecutive matches without success.
In the Olympiastadion Berlin, the hosts initially had more possession, while Fürth sat deep and waited. Nevertheless, the guests had the first big chance: Futkeu (9th minute) shot just wide from a turn. Afterwards, Fürth grew stronger. After Brekalo’s dismissal for bringing down Felix Klaus as the last man, the fouled player himself hit the crossbar with the resulting free-kick. Shortly before halftime, Hertha’s Julian Eitschberger (45+3 minute) made a crucial goal-line clearance against Futkeu.
Even after the break, Fürth pressed on: Klaus (48th minute) shot just wide of the goal from the edge of the penalty area. During this period of pressure, the relegation candidate was caught cold when Eichhorn embarked on a nice solo run and coolly finished. Unfazed by the setback, Fürth continued to apply pressure. Klaus (61st minute) and Felix Higl (66th minute) missed further opportunities, then Cuisance scored. After Futkeu’s goal, Fürth almost managed to equalize.
English Translation
Fortuna Düsseldorf has secured important points in their battle against relegation, despite SV Elversberg’s draw. Meanwhile, the relegation of Preußen Münster from the 2. Bundesliga has been confirmed.
SV Elversberg still holds its fate in its own hands: a victory next Sunday (3:30 PM/Sky) at home against bottom-placed Preußen Münster would, due to a significantly better goal difference, most likely secure promotion. Their pursuers had previously dropped points – SC Paderborn on Friday in a 2-2 draw against Karlsruher SC, and Hannover 96 on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum.
However, Elversberg failed to capitalize on the opportunity in front of 3,000 travelling fans. An own goal by Le Joncour (26th minute) and goals from Cedric Itten (44th/51st minute) postponed the decision on who will follow second-division champions Schalke 04 directly into the Bundesliga. An own goal by Tim Oberdorf (90+1 minute) did not help the visitors. Düsseldorf, on the other hand, secured big points in the relegation fight.
The hosts initially dominated possession. However, they struggled to make much of their ball control, with a shot from Emmanuel Iyoha being their only attempt for a long time (16th minute). Elversberg played cautiously, initially focusing on not falling behind. This proved to be a complete failure: after a cross from Marin Ljubicic, Le Joncour deflected the ball off goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof’s leg, from where it bounced into his own net.
The goal had a brief effect, after which the guests became more active. A header from David Mokwa, from an offside position, was parried away by Fortuna goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier with a spectacular save (31st minute). Otherwise, Düsseldorf blocked all shot attempts and countered successfully: Itten headed in a cross from Shinta Appelkamp to make it 2-0. The pattern continued after the break: Fortuna exploited another counter-attack through Itten. Kristof slipped while coming out, as did many of his teammates throughout the match.
Bad news for Fortuna: Itten will miss the crucial matchday 34 basement duel against Fürth due to a yellow card suspension, which he picked up when the score was 3-0. This is a significant blow.
Preußen Münster Becomes First Second-Division Relegation
Preußen Münster is confirmed as the first team to be relegated from the 2. Bundesliga. Coach Alois Schwartz’s team could only manage a 1-1 draw (1:1) at home against Darmstadt 98 after a long period playing with ten men on Sunday. They have no chance of survival on the final matchday next weekend, being at the bottom of the table.
Two years after promotion, Münster will once again face relegation to the 3. Liga. Last season, Preußen narrowly avoided relegation in 15th place. Alexander Ende was then appointed as the new coach in the summer. In mid-March, Münster, then in 16th place, decided to make a change, but the hoped-for turnaround did not materialize under Ende’s successor, Schwartz.
Münster remains winless in their sixth league match under the new coach against Darmstadt. Shin Yamada (8th minute) initially fueled hopes of clinging to their minimal chance of survival with an early lead. However, after Isac Lidberg equalized (15th minute), Münster made life difficult for themselves.
Captain Jorrit Hendrix (28th minute) was sent off with a red card after a harsh tackle on Darmstadt’s Killian Corredor. Darmstadt then took control with an extra player. Although Preußen goalkeeper Johannes Schenk saved a penalty he conceded himself against Lidberg (37th minute), Münster was far from mounting a comeback in the second half.
Defeat Against Hertha BSC: Greuther Fürth Misses Too Many Chances
SpVgg Greuther Fürth is on the verge of dropping into the 3. Liga. On the penultimate matchday, the Franconian team squandered numerous chances against Hertha BSC, losing 1-2 (0-0). They are now doomed to win in their league finale next Sunday (3:30 PM/Sky) against direct competitors Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Berlin’s top talent, the 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn (55th minute), scored to make it 1-0, becoming the youngest ever 2. Bundesliga goalscorer. Michael Cuisance (84th minute) extended the lead, and the guests’ goal by Noel Futkeu (88th minute) came too late. The Berliners played with ten men for a long time after Josip Brekalo (32nd minute) received a red card for a professional foul.
With 34 points, the «Kleeblatt» (Greuther Fürth) sits in the relegation zone in 17th place before the final game. Arminia Bielefeld occupies the relegation play-off spot in 16th with two more points. Ahead of them are Eintracht Braunschweig and Düsseldorf, who both defeated SV Elversberg on Sunday (37 points each).
Fürth, on the other hand, is fighting to avoid starting in the third tier for the first time since the 1996/1997 season, when the club still played in the Regionalliga Süd. For Berlin, who had already lost their chance of promotion to the Bundesliga, this was their first win after four consecutive matches without success.
In the Olympiastadion Berlin, the hosts initially had more possession, while Fürth sat deep and waited. Nevertheless, the guests had the first big chance: Futkeu (9th minute) shot just wide from a turn. Afterwards, Fürth grew stronger. After Brekalo’s dismissal for bringing down Felix Klaus as the last man, the fouled player himself hit the crossbar with the resulting free-kick. Shortly before halftime, Hertha’s Julian Eitschberger (45+3 minute) made a crucial goal-line clearance against Futkeu.
Even after the break, Fürth pressed on: Klaus (48th minute) shot just wide of the goal from the edge of the penalty area. During this period of pressure, the relegation candidate was caught cold when Eichhorn embarked on a nice solo run and coolly finished. Unfazed by the setback, Fürth continued to apply pressure. Klaus (61st minute) and Felix Higl (66th minute) missed further opportunities, then Cuisance scored. After Futkeu’s goal, Fürth almost managed to equalize.