2. Bundesliga: Elversberg Knocks on Bundesliga Door, Paderborn and Düsseldorf Keep Cologne Awaiting Promotion
No prospects of Bundesliga promotion for Elversberg: aspirations linger amidst Cologne's refusal
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With a hard-fought victory, 1. FC Cologne is anxiously watching the race for the 2. Bundesliga promotion. In last night's game, SV Elversberg and SC Paderborn beat their opponents, putting Cologne's return to the Bundesliga from the couch at risk. 1. FC Magdeburg is now out of the promotion race.
SV Elversberg - Eintracht Braunschweig: 3-0 (3-0)
Elversberg is ever so close to the Bundesliga. Trained by Horst Steffen, they defeated Eintracht Braunschweig 3-0 at home and secured a place in the promotion play-off. With a win next Sunday against Schalke 04, even a direct promotion to the top tier is conceivable.
Fisnik Asllani (11') and Muhammed Damar (18', 21') scored for the hosts, who have not lost in seven games. Braunschweig, on the other hand, slipped into the relegation play-off spot with this defeat.
The hosts started aggressively, with Asllani scoring the early goal, his 18th of the season. National Under-20 player Damar followed with a double, rewarding the spirited Elversberg team that aims for promotion. Asllani (29'), Tom Zimmerschied (33'), and Lukas Petkov (45.+1) missed further chances before the break.
After the break, Elversberg had control but couldn't finish their opportunities. Offensively, Braunschweig lacked.
SC Paderborn - 1. FC Magdeburg: 2-1 (1-1)
Paderborn showed strong nerves in the promotion battle and can keep their hopes of a return to the top tier alive. In a thrilling duel against 1. FC Magdeburg, they won 2-1 (1-1). Goals by Calvin Brackelmann (41') and Felix Goetze (61') secured the victory, while Magdeburg had opened the scoring through Martijn Kaars' (15') penalty.
Paderborn must still beat Karlsruher SC in the final game of the season to stand a chance. But their competitors still have the upper hand: SV Elversberg is third with a significantly better goal difference, while Cologne has three more points but a worse goal difference. Hamburg SV can secure a promotion spot already this Saturday night against SSV Ulm (8:30 pm, Sky, Sport1 and live ticker at ntv.de) and would be unreachable for Paderborn.
Football: Promotion Very Close, Cologne Celebrates "Incredible" Funkel
For Paderborn, the pressure in the tight promotion race seemed to be an inconvenient burden at first, as FC Magdeburg performed better in the initial minutes and was rewarded with an early lead. The VAR indicated a handball by Paderborn's defender Tjark Scheller, referee Martin Petersen awarded a penalty. Top scorer Kaars scored the deserved goal for the guests.
However, Paderborn proved more determined after about 30 minutes, disrupting early and creating several chances. Defender Brackelmann converted one of them from a midfield position. Paderborn seemed more focused after the break, with another defender, Goetze scoring after a corner.
Fortuna Düsseldorf - FC Schalke 04: 2-0 (0-0)
Düsseldorf has returned to the path of success at a suitable time and still maintains a slim chance of promotion. Coach Daniel Thioune's team prevailed 2-0 at home against Schalke 04, giving themselves a chance for a Bundesliga return. The gap to third place in the relegation is just two points, but Düsseldorf has a significantly worse goal difference than its rivals.
Attackers Dawid Kownacki (57.) and Myron van Brederode (78.) scored the victories for Düsseldorf after three consecutive draws. To reach the promotion like last year, the team must beat 1. FC Magdeburg next Sunday (3:30 pm, Sky and live ticker at ntv.de) and hope for slip-ups from the competition. Schalke, who parted ways with Kees van Wonderen, suffered their third consecutive defeat in today's game. But theoretically, they have nothing to worry about relegation.
Düsseldorf had the advantage right from the start and made the most of their first opportunity. However, van Brederode's (13') goal was disallowed due to an offside position following a VAR review. Schalke then evened the game and posed a threat through Moussa Sylla (24'). Düsseldorf increased its pressure before half-time, but Marcin Kaminski of Schalke saved Zimmermann's shot on the line (45.+2)
The hosts took the upper hand after the break and were rewarded. Kownacki scored a header from a corner visibly moved by the goal after a family bereavement. Schalke could not resist, with van Brederode scoring another late goal.
Source: ntv.de and tsi/sid
- 2. Bundesliga
- Football
- 1. FC Köln
- SC Paderborn 07
- 1. FC Magdeburg
- Fortuna Düsseldorf
- FC Schalke 04
- Hamburger SV
- Elversberg's 3-0 victory over Eintracht Braunschweig puts them within reach of the Bundesliga, securing a place in the promotion play-off and potentially the top tier with a win against Schalke 04 next week.
- In a tight promotion race, SC Paderborn showed resilience, winning 2-1 against 1. FC Magdeburg, but still needs to beat Karlsruher SC to keep their hopes alive, with Hamburg SV already securing a promotion spot.
- For Paderborn, the early lead by 1. FC Magdeburg seemed insurmountable, but they showed determination, with Calvin Brackelmann and Felix Goetze scoring the winning goals after about 30 minutes and 61 minutes respectively.
- Fortuna Düsseldorf, maintaining a slim chance of promotion, won 2-0 against FC Schalke 04, with Dawid Kownacki and Myron van Brederode scoring the goals. However, with a significantly worse goal difference, they need to beat 1. FC Magdeburg next week and hope for slip-ups from the competition.
