Bundesliga News

Werder survive relegation play-off against Heidenheim to stay in the Bundesliga

By Rune Gjerulff   @runegjerulff

Werder Bremen will stay in Germany's top flight after drawing 2-2 with Heidenheim in the second leg of the relegation play-off.
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Werder Bremen secured a spot in next season's Bundesliga with a 2-2 draw away at Heidenheim in the second leg of the relegation play-off on Monday.


The first game at the Weserstadion earlier this week ended in a goalless draw, so a 2-2 draw was enough to see Werder win on away goals.

It only took a few minutes before a goal was scored tonight. After Josh Sargent attempted to turn and shoot at the edge of the area, the ball fell to Heidenheim defender Norman Theuerkauf, who wanted to clear the ball, but ended up kicking it into the top corner of his own net to gift Werder an early goal.

Werder were dominant from the start and looked dangerous at the beginning of the game, but Heidenheim got a bit more into the game as the first half progressed.

They had to wait until after the break before creating a real chance, though. Straight after coming on, Stefan Schimmer tested Werder goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka with a good attempt from 25 yards, giving the hosts a promising start to the second half. A moment later, David Otto missed a free header at the far post.

The guests quickly took control of the game again, however, and Ludwig Augustinsson and Josh Sargent both came close to increasing the lead before the hour mark, but saw their efforts kept out by Kevin Müller in the Heidenheim net.


Hope was restored for Heidenheim when Tim Kleindienst equalised after 85 minutes, firing in the rebound after Tobias Mohr hit the woodwork.

But Ludwig Augustinsson effectively killed off the game when he put Werder ahead in injury time.

Kleindienst then made it 2-2 from the penalty spot with his second goal, but it was too late for Heidenheim, who ultimately saw their hopes of a first Bundesliga promotion crushed.


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