2. Bundesliga: Matchday 4 Review
26 goals, 3 home wins, 2 away wins and 4 draws, another weekend of 2. Bundesliga is over and we recap all of the action on Bulinews!
Here is the full review of all nine 2. Bundesliga fixtures on matchday 4.
Here is the full review of all nine 2. Bundesliga fixtures on matchday 4.
Friday 20th August - all kick-offs 18:30 local
Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-2 Holstein Kiel
Goalscorers
5' Alexander Mühling (0-1)
assisted by Johannes van den Bergh
40' Khaled Narey (1-1)
assisted by Felix Klaus
65' Steven Skrzybski (1-2)
assisted by Fabian Reese
87' Kristoffer Peterson (2-2)
assisted by N/A
Statistics
Ball possession: 60% - 40%
Total shots: 16 - 9
Chances created: 13 - 10
Big chances: 2 - 1
Holstein Kiel saw what Jahn Regensburg did to them last weekend and tried to emulate the Jahn style away to Fortuna Düsseldorf. Fortuna dominated the opening exchanges, just like Ole Werner probably wanted. The first Stork attack was perfect, a precise diagonal ball from van den Bergh found Alexander Mühling and the striker headed home Kiel's first goal of the season on five minutes. The first half continued to be like that, Fortuna had most of the ball and Kiel broke away well on the counter. Towards the end of the first half, though, the Stork attacks started to dry up, and it seemed like the away side were just waiting for referee Florian Heft to blow the half-time whistle. In the end, the pressure became too much and van den Bergh let Narey go, he tucked in with five minutes before time. Both teams went into the break level, and that was to be the score until halfway through the second half.
A drab 25 minutes forced the two coaches to make changes, almost as a wake-up call to the players. Substitute Reese made an instant impact to proceedings, he found Skrzybski and the ex-Schalke man gave the keeper no chance with a powerful drive. Once again the pressure mounted for Holstein Kiel and eventually the Fortuna goal came from a corner which was met by Peterson, 2-2. The game could've gone either way in the final minutes, the best chance was for Kiel from Steven Skrzybski, he hit the post with a minute to go. In the end, Fortuna still fail to beat Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga, Kiel gain their first point and first goal of the season, but it could've easily been 3 points. Fortuna are win-less since the first matchday and Kiel are still yet to win this season.
Hannover 96 1-0 1. FC Heidenheim
Goalscorers
88' Hendrik Weydandt (1-0)
Statistics
Ball possession: 57% - 43%
Total shots: 11 - 13
Chances created: 9 - 12
Big chances: 1 - 1
As I mentioned in my matchday 4 preview, Hannover and Heidenheim is a tough game to predict, they had both won three matches against each other before this match. The HDI-Arena wasn't treated to the best football match, with many chances squandered due to poor finishing. In the end, a chance was created which was very tough to miss. Late in the second half, a long-ball was too high for Hannover number 9 Hendrik Weydandt, poor communication led to Jonas Föhrenbach miskicking the ball back into the penalty area, then he slipped badly which meant he couldn't recover. Weydandt scored an almost unmissable goal and there was a great sense of relief among the H96 fans. The goal was unanswered from the away side and Hannover gave Frank Schmidt his first defeat of the season, Hannover also win for the first time this season in the 2. Bundesliga. It was unconvincing from the home team, though, and Jan Zimmermann still has a lot of work to do.
Saturday 21st August - all kick-offs 13:30 local unless stated
Karlsruhe SC 0-0 SV Werder Bremen
Statistics
Ball possession: 35% - 65%
Total shots: 8 - 19
Chances created: 7 - 16
Big chances: 1 - 5
Markus Anfang was forced into more defensive changes even after the 4-1 defeat to Paderborn when the defending was terrible. Toprak was absent due to injury, Mbom and Mai were on the bench. Jung, Veljkovic, Schmid and Groß, who wore the captain's armband, were new to the game. The new back four had a lot of trouble dealing with Philipp Hofmann early on, the striker in red-hot form had three good early chances but Werder managed to withstand the early home pressure. Both teams struggled to break one another down, and the game seemed to open up when Marvin Wanitzek received a second-yellow. Werder's good press meant the midfielder dribbled for too long, lost the ball to Niklas Schmidt and fouled the attacking midfielder. Karlsruhe coach Christian Eichner responded with two defensive changes and the best Bremen chance after the red card came one minute before the final whistle, right-back Agu fired a 15-meter attempt straight into Gersbeck's arms. Karlsruhe remain unbeaten after four matches but it's now two consecutive goalless draws for 'Eurofighter'. I do think Werder Bremen will take the point well after everything's considered, but the game did really open up for all three points today after the red card. Werder now play all three of the newly-promoted teams in the next four games, let's see where they are in a couple of matches.
SC Paderborn 07 3-1 FC St. Pauli
Goalscorers
8' Dennis Srbeny (missed penalty)
28' Guido Burgstaller (0-1)
assisted by Daniel Kyereh
45' Adam Dzwigala, Own Goal (1-1)
65' Kai Pröger (2-1)
assisted by Sven Michel
90+3 Sven Michel (3-1)
assisted by Kai Pröger
Statistics
Ball possession: 62% - 38%
Total shots: 19 - 10
Chances created: 13 - 10
Big chances: 2 - 1
A highly attractive match awaited at the Benteler-Arena, Paderborn were celebrating a 4-1 away win to Werder Bremen while St. Pauli were the Hamburg Derbysiegers. Paderborn started the better team, forcing FCSP captain Philipp Ziereis to take out Sven Michel, who was one-on-one with the keeper, resulting in a red card and a penalty. The penalty from Dennis Srbeny was saved and St. Pauli lived to fight another day. Pressure mounted with the player advantage, many Paderborn chances missed and saved. St. Pauli had one good counter-attack, it was quick with intent and Guido Burgstaller scored amazingly from way outside the SCP box, Jannik Huth with no chance. The definition of smash and grab. The home team regrouped after the shock Burgstaller goal and it was attack after attack. In the end, the pressure was too much and Dzwigala headed the ball into his own goal.
The pressure continued after the break, Robin Yalcin thought he'd scored on 60 minutes but he was just offside after a Sven Michel pass to Yalcin. Kai Pröger came on for Yalcin instantly after and scored just minutes after, too. His goal counted and Paderborn were in the driving seat. St. Pauli can keep their heads up after 83 minutes of being outnumbered. Sven Michel locked up the three Paderborner points with a tap-in 3 minutes into added time. Marco Stiepermann, making his Paderborn debut, found Pröger in space and his ball across the goal was perfect and Michel had a full goal to aim in. Paderborn stay unbeaten and head to Dresden next week, looking for revenge after a Pokal round 1 defeat a few weeks ago. St. Pauli have been handed their first defeat of the season but can be happy about the way they played with ten men for the majority of the game.
Jahn Regensburg 4-1 Schalke 04
Goalscorers
8' Jan-Niklas Beste (1-0)
assisted by David Otto
55' Steve Breitkreuz (2-0)
assisted by Andreas Albers
73' David Otto (3-0)
assisted by Jan-Niklas Beste
81' Simon Terodde (3-1)
assisted by Darko Churlinov
86' Sarpreet Singh (4-1)
assisted by N/A
Statistics
Ball possession: 42% - 57%
Total shots: 15 - 16
Chances created: 14 - 13
Big chances: 3 - 1
Schalke, oh Schalke. The away team started brightly, but the first mistake from the miners was punished. Fährmann played a poor pass to Flick who lost the ball to Otto under pressure and he found Beste and drive went in from 20 yards. Jahn now held the best cards - dropping off and waiting for more Schalke mistakes. Fährmann kept the game close in the first half with two good saves. Regensburg scored their second at a perfect timing, just as the away team were having their best spell of the match. Andreas Albers' free-kick found Steve Breitkreuz for number 2. The game was over when Otto scored Jahn's first striker goal of the season, he bundled the ball past the line from a corner. Terodde scored a consolation goal which didn't make the score less embarrassing as Singh's violent effort was Regensburg's fourth of the day anyway. Schalke lose 4-1 away and now have collected 4 points from 4 matches. Jahn Regensburg stay perfect with 12 points from 4 matches.
Hansa Rostock 1-3 Dynamo Dresden - kick-off 20:30 local
Goalscorers
1' Heinz Mörschel (0-1)
assisted by N/A
43' Streli Mamba (1-1)
assisted by N/A
63' Panagiotis Vlachodimos (1-2)
assisted by Christoph Daferner
70' Julius Kade (1-3)
assisted by N/A
Statistics
Ball possession: 54% - 46%
Total shots: 16 - 15
Chances created: 10 - 11
Big chances: 1 - 7
This week's 2. Bundesliga 'Topspiel' didn't disappoint, even after one minute. That's how long it took for the first goal to be scored, Rostock all over the place defensively and a shot from Königsdörffer was parried to Mörschel who found a way to get the ball through the keeper Kolke and Dresden had the very early lead. Both teams had to endure an injury each in the first half, which slowed the pace of the game down slightly. Rostock's response was just before half-time, a cross found Streli Mamba who took one perfect touch before volleying the ball high into the top of the goal. Both teams went into the short break level, and the game really changed when Alexander Schmidt brought on extra offensive options for the away team. Vlachodimos' header was just too powerful for keeper Kolke and Rostock had a deficit to catch again. The game was gone soon after, Kolke was able to save against Hosiner's header, but was powerless when Kade shot. Dresden win 3-1 away against Rostock for the fourth consecutive time, and are sitting with 10 points after 4 games.
Sunday 22nd August - all kick-offs 13:30 local
Erzgebirge Aue 1-3 SV Sandhausen
Goalscorers
52' Alexander Esswein (0-1)
assisted by Daniel Keita-Ruel
65' Babacar Guèye (1-1)
assisted by Ben Zolinski
82' Janik Bachmann (1-2)
assisted by Erik Zenga
88' Cebio Soukou (1-3)
assisted by N/A
Statistics
Ball possession: 42% - 58%
Total shots: 17 - 14
Chances created: 12 - 13
Big chances: 5 - 3
An unlikely four-goal-thriller happened at the Erzgebirgsstadion. The game looked set for a goalless draw when nobody could put the ball into the goal. Late into the first half, Aue missed a one-on-one and then Sandhausen missed a three-on-one when Esswein took too long to shoot, allowing the Aue defenders to recover. Carlson missed a free-header on 47 minutes, but the deadlock was finally broken. Keita-Ruel layed the ball to Esswein and he simply tapped the ball in. Aue responded with a goal of their own, a pinpoint cross from Zolinski found Babacar Guèye and he rose above Zhirov to head Aue into the lead. Aue nearly doubled their lead, substitute Nazarov's half-volley was met well by SVS keeper Drewes. Aue thought they'd taken the lead with ten minutes to go, however Nazarov was offside when Guèye found him. Sandhausen took advantage and Jannik Bachmann scored from Zenga's cross, Sandhausen finished the match with a weird goal. A SVS corner was headered out to Reibo Soukou, he dribbled into the box and shot the ball, him and Keita-Ruel shot the same ball and it found the net. Aue are still yet to win this season, joining Kiel and Ingolstadt in the category after 4 matches, Sandhausen do get their first win of the season after a draw to Karlsruhe and defeats to Jahn Regensburg and Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Hamburger SV 2-2 Darmstadt 98
Goalscorers
14' Phillip Tietz, Penalty (0-1)
30' Sebastian Schonlau (1-1)
assisted by Sonny Kittel
45+1' Moritz Heyer (2-1)
assisted by Jonas Meffert
45+4' Phillip Tietz (2-2)
Statistics
Ball possession: 64% - 36%
Total shots: 19 - 16
Chances created: 15 - 13
Big chances: 6 - 4
The most entertaining Sonntag match was found at the Volksparkstadion as Tim Walter faced Torsten Lieberknecht. In truth, it was Sebastian Schonlau versus Philip Tietz. The first goal came from a penalty, Jonas David fouled Tietz in the box and the man who won the penalty converted past Fernandes. HSV had a great chance to level on 20 minutes, Glatzel's attempt was saved well by Schuhen. The Darmstadt keeper couldn't keep out Schonlau's header, though, as Sonny Kittel's perfect free-kick found the head of the Hamburg skipper and Schuhen should've done better. HSV started to dominate and a beautifully taken back-heel was put home from defender Heyer. The corner found its way to the edge of the box, a hit-and-hope shot/cross from Meffert found a free Heyer who couldn't do a better touch. The scoring didn't stop there in the first half. An extra five minutes allowed a couple more Darmstadt attacks, a shot from Müller hit the post and fell straight to Tietz, a simple header levelled the game again!
Chances were more at a minimum in the second half, HSV could've been in the lead instantly in the second half as Jatta should've done better with the close chance he had. The best Darmstadt chance in the second half was at the end of the game, Tietz was looking for his hatrick and nearly had his three goals but could only find Fernandes' hands. Hamburg are still yet to win at home this season and after their disastrous start, Darmstadt have gained 4 points from their last 2 matches.
Ingolstadt 04 0-0 1. FC Nürnberg
Statistics
Ball possession: 40% - 60%
Total shots: 14 - 15
Chances created: 10 - 12
Big chances: 1 - 1
The second goalless match of the weekend was between Ingolstadt and Nürnberg. The best chance for the away side was at the end of the first half, a corner found a free Krauss who couldn't direct the header and it would've been 0-1 at the break. Mats Møller Dæhli seemed to be injured at the end of the game which would be a real blow for Nürnberg going forward.
I will be uploading 'Five things I learned from Matchday 4 in the 2. Bundesliga' article on Wednesday. Follow me on Twitter