2nd Bundesliga: Kiel overtakes HSV, Hertha can also celebrate

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The Holstein Kiel team celebrates after the win against Schalke - the Gelsenkirchen team is still threateningly close to the relegation zone

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Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Cucumbers, tennis balls, game interruptions: There were also fan protests against the planned entry of an investor into the German Football League (DFL) during the Sunday games of the 2nd Bundesliga (read more about this here ), as a result of which objects were thrown on the place flew.

In terms of sport, Holstein Kiel passed HSV in the table after a 1-0 (0-0) win against FC Schalke 04 and is now second with 39 points. Both HSV and St. Pauli, direct competitors, had recently lost. It was the first victory of the year for the autumn champions from Kiel.

SpVgg Greuther Fürth, however, failed in the promotion race. The Franconians suffered a 1:2 (0:1) defeat against Hertha BSC on Sunday and the game was interrupted twice. In the basement duel, the bottom of the table, VfL Osnabrück, and the penultimate Hansa Rostock drew 0-0, and the situation is becoming increasingly hopeless, especially for Osnabrück.

Of all people, the former "squire" Steven Skrzybski scored the only goal of the game: Skrzybski, who once even played in the Champions League for Schalke, scored with a volley after a corner for Kiel in the 55th minute of the game - but missed the obligatory one Goal celebration. The Gelsenkirchen team had previously stood up to the hosts, who were superior in terms of play, for a long time with a strong goalkeeping performance from Marius Müller.

Kiel had started briskly. Shuto Machino (2nd) and Joshua Mees (7th) could have given Kiel the lead in the opening minutes. The promotion candidate dominated the first division relegated team even without six injured, suspended or sick regular players. The disappointing Schalke were only threatened once by Englishman Derry Murkin in the 24th minute. Kiel, on the other hand, missed further good opportunities through Mees (54th/83rd), Machino (58th) and Skrzybski (76th).

Schalke suffered their third defeat in the fourth game of the year and are still threateningly close to the relegation zone (14th place/23 points).

The people of Fürth had a lot of trouble against the poisonous and effective Berliners. The visitors' supposed opening goal by Florian Niederlechner (22nd) was disallowed by the video referee because of a foul on captain Branimir Hrgota. After a first short interruption due to fan protests when tennis balls flew onto the pitch, the Fürth team were initially too passive at a corner. Berlin's Marc-Oliver Kempf took advantage of this with his head (34').

Kempf demonstrated his header strength twice (63'), but then had to be substituted injured. Hrgota (56th) equalized with a shot. In a game that ended up being nervous, Niederlechner (90+10) was sent off with a yellow-red card. The Fürth team remains fourth in the table, Hertha climbed to eighth position.

In a game that was frayed by numerous interruptions (tennis balls and cucumbers flew onto the court), Osnabrück was the team that dominated the game. Christian Joe Conteh missed the best chance in the first half after a corner (9th minute). In return, Junior Brumado should have given Rostock the lead, but he didn't hit the empty goal from a few meters while falling. It was Rostock's only chance in the entire game.

Even after the break, the hosts were the better team. Hansa could thank goalkeeper Markus Kolke for not falling behind. The visiting goalkeeper made outstanding saves from two headers from Conteh (52') and Maxwell Gyamfi (54'). In the final phase, Osnabrück pushed for the winning goal, but missed a number of good chances.

The point shares do not advance either team. The situation is becoming increasingly hopeless, especially for the hosts. Although the promoted team remained unbeaten for the third time in a row, they are already nine points behind the relegation place.

ngo/dpa/sid