Unpredictable 3. Liga Action: Dresden's Promotion and Bielefeld's Safety Secured in Dramatic Circumstances
Dresden experiences a loss, Bielefeld poised on digital screens for victory
Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Email, or even print this out – the 3. Liga is a league where no team is a guaranteed victor! The recent matches show this clearly.
Dynamo Dresden and Arminia Bielefeld have locked in their promotions to the 2. Bundesliga, but not without some unexpected incidents. Dresden suffered a 0:1 (0:0) defeat against relegation-threatened Mannheim, yet they were still able to celebrate their promotion due to other results. Premium League cup runner-up Bielefeld is already secured in the top two slots before their upcoming match tomorrow (13:30 CET/MagentaSport) against already-relegated club Unterhaching.
The celebration in Mannheim was soured by unsavory scenes, though. Both sets of fans nearly invaded the pitch right before the final whistle. Referee Lukas Benen paused the game for around ten minutes, and a large police presence was needed to restore order after the match, with officers even riding horses onto the pitch to maintain control.
Energy Cottbus and Alemannia Aachen provided some important assistance. While Cottbus moved up to third place after a 3:1 (2:0) win against Hansa Rostock, 1. FC Saarbrücken slipped to fourth after a 2:4 (0:1) loss at Alemannia Aachen. Saarbrucken has a worse goal difference than Hansa, who are currently in fifth place, just two points behind. The team that will face the 16th-placed team from the 2. Bundesliga in the playoffs will be decided on the final matchday.
Dresden's defeat in Mannheim was painful, but Kennedy Okpala's goal in the 62nd minute saved them some embarrassment. Erik Engelhardt (8'), top scorer Timmy Thiele (19'), and Lucas Copado (49') put Cottbus in third place. However, Hansa managed to score a consolation goal through Alexander Rossipal (55'), and they face an uphill battle for their next game.
According to sources: ntv.de, tsi/dpa/sid
- Dynamo Dresden
- Football
- The unpredictable nature of the 3. Liga was evident again with Dynamo Dresden's 0:1 defeat against Mannheim, despite securing their promotion due to other results.
- Kennedy Okpala's goal in the 62nd minute saved Dynamo Dresden some embarrassment, but it was a stormy end to their match, with fans nearly invading the pitch before the final whistle.
- The European-leagues landscape could be affected as the final matchday approaches, with Dynamo Dresden, Arminia Bielefeld, and other teams in the 3. Liga still battling it out for promotion spots.
- Bundesliga-bound Arminia Bielefeld's UEFA Europa League aspirations could be jeopardized if they suffer a setback in their upcoming match against Unterhaching, even though they are already secured in the top two slots.
