As of: February 24, 2024, 6:50 p.m
Comments
Press
Split
Jan-Niklas Beste (l, hidden) from Heidenheim celebrates with his teammates after his goal to make it 2-2.
© Andreas Gora/dpa
“Point is point.”
The draw between Union and Heidenheim could be reduced to this formula.
Both continue to say that staying in the league is their goal.
The newcomer could expect things differently.
Berlin - Frank Schmidt did not allow himself to be lured.
The coach of 1. FC Heidenheim wanted to continue to ignore all the number games when looking at the Bundesliga table.
Relegation.
That remains the only debatable goal of the season for the cheeky newcomer.
The tableau could long ago provide other arguments.
“This is out of the question for us as newcomers,” said Schmidt categorically after the 2-2 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday.
After Saturday's games, Heidenheim was ninth in the table, two points behind a place that could qualify for participation in the European Cup and eleven points ahead of the relegation zone.
But principle is principle.
They also know this at Union Berlin, where year after year they talked about the 40-point mark as the only goal - and then moved into international business three times.
This season, the Iron Men are being relieved of their cautious arguments.
After the draw they are still three points behind Heidenheim in the bottom half of the table.
“Point is a point,” said stand-in captain Rani Khedira defiantly after the draw against the promoted team.
“25 points won’t be enough.
We are focused on the next opponent,” said coach Nenad Bjelica.
For the first time, Union was unable to win a home game under the Croatians, failing to break a possible club record of five wins in a row at the Alte Försterei stadium.
Nikola Dovedan (3rd minute) with a lightning goal and Jan-Niklas Beste (71st) with a fine lob scored the goals for Heidenheim.
Union was already on the way to the record thanks to goals from Robin Gosens (44th) and Andras Schäfer (45th + 2).
The Union fans had hung a garland of tennis balls on their stands like a victorious wreath as a reminder of the successful protest against the DFL's investor plans.
The birthday song for Captain Christopher Trimmel (37), which was sung collectively before kick-off, had just faded away, but all of the Köpenickers' celebrations were over.
An unsuccessful header from Kevin Vogt served as the perfect assist for Heidenheim's Dovedan for his first Bundesliga goal.
There had been no deficit so far under Bjelica.
At first there was little going on offensively for the Union team.
After half an hour, Brenden Aaronson attempted a solo, but naively got stuck in the Heidenheim defense.
A half-time deficit seemed realistic for the Berliners.
Then the people of Heidenheim suddenly and involuntarily retaliated with gifts.
A harmless free-kick cross from Juranovic allowed three guest players to pass unnecessarily, Patrick Mainka set up for Gosens as he fell, who only had to push in.
Annoying for the national player: After a challenge against Dovedan, he received his fifth yellow card and will miss the next week against Borussia Dortmund.
Shortly after the equalizer, Tim Kleindienst made an unbelievable bad pass in midfield.
Schäfer happily accepted the ball and, with the help of Aaronson's back, shot in to give the Union the lead.
To Bjelica's dismay, after a lively start to the second half, it was more or less actively managed - and ultimately wasted.
During a counterattack, Beste saw Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow, who was too far in front of his goal, and shot in to equalize.
dpa