Leo Scienza struck a dramatic Ninety fifth-minute winner as Heidenheim retained their place within the Bundesliga with a 4-3 combination success over Elversberg within the relegation play-off.
Having recovered from two targets down to attract 2-2 within the first leg at dwelling final week, Heidenheim went forward for the primary time within the tie 9 minutes into Monday’s rematch.
Mathias Honsak broke in behind to complete previous Nicolas Kristof and silence the house supporters on the Waldstadion an der Kaiserlinde, although Elversberg equalised simply after the half-hour mark.
Captain Robin Fellhauer beat Kevin Muller with a neat end to degree the tie at 1-1 on the evening and 3-3 on combination, as Elversberg made their dominance of possession rely.
That sample continued after the interval as Elversberg’s Fisnik Asllani had a aim dominated out for an offside towards Lukas Petkov within the build-up within the forty seventh minute.
Nevertheless, Heidenheim continued to threaten on the counter-attack and Scienza broke Elversberg hearts with additional time looming, slicing inside from the left then steering a reverse end into the top-left nook.
90+6. Min.: JAAAAAAAAAA! WIR SPIELEN NÄCHSTES JAHR BUNDESLIGA!
#NurDerFCH #ELVFCH | @mhp_de pic.twitter.com/d3BmqK54nu
— 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 e. V. (@FCH1846) Could 26, 2025
Knowledge Debrief: Elversberg fail to buck the pattern
Elversberg will probably be kicking themselves at having misplaced this tie, having led 2-0 on the street final week and managed the second leg for lengthy intervals, having fun with 64.9% possession and tallying 549 passes to their opponents’ 289.
However because of Scienza’s late sucker punch, they grew to become the newest in a protracted line of third-placed finishers from the two. Bundesliga to overlook out on promotion.
Within the final 12 seasons, the relegation play-off has been received by the Bundesliga aspect on 11 events, with solely Stuttgart bucking the pattern with their 2019 win over Union Berlin.
When drawing the primary leg of a Bundesliga relegation play-off tie, top-flight sides have now received 5 instances in six makes an attempt for the reason that format was reintroduced in 2008-09.
Heidenheim’s victory caps an amazing escape, as they’d been in grave hazard of computerized relegation earlier than a late-season upturn. They solely misplaced one in all their final six video games of 2024-25, profitable three and drawing two, having misplaced every of their earlier three.
