2. Bundesliga: Relegated Heidenheim beat promoted Osnabrück in seven-goal thriller

Heidenheim started their 2. Bundesliga campaign with a 4-3 win over Osnabrück. Frank Schmidt’s side led 3-2 at the end of the first-half after Osnabrück cancelled out their first two strikes.

New signing Marcel Costly assisted Budu Zivzivadze’s opener in the tenth minute. The Georgian striker started the season with the form he had at the closing stage of their Bundesliga campaign as his second goal was nullified for an offside.

The 3. Liga champions then leveled the score from a set-piece opportunity in the midpoint of the first-half. Center-back Niklas Wiemann headed home after Konrad Faber’s initial delivery from a corner-kick parried away by Heidenheim’s defense.

It was the turn of Osnabrück to fail to clear their lines when Costly restored Heidenheim’s lead five minutes later. Another five minutes later, Faber produced his second assist of the game when David Kopacz caught everyone by surprise with a stunning strike from outside the box.

However, the newcomers were behind once again as Jonas Föhrenbach’s corner-kick was converted by Jan Schöppner in the injury-time of the first-half. The next goal also came from another corner-kick, but it didn’t arrive until the 89th minute.

Heidenheim led by two goals for the first time as debutant Costly registered his third direct goal involvement with a perfect delivery to Marvin Pieringer. A couple of minutes later, Marnon Busch was penalized for a handball from Robin Meißner’s free-kick. Osnabrück’s last season top-scorer netted the seventh and last goal of the game from the resulting spot.

Osnabrück pushed for yet another equalizer in injury-time, but the hosts held on to grab all three points in the opening matchday. Heidenheim will face Hertha away from home next week as both teams will hope to maintain their perfect start to the season. Osnabrück host Magdeburg, who lost 6-1 at home to Eintracht Braunschweig.