zFC St. Pauli, leader of the wide league, has the FC Schalke 04 suffered a setback with its second loss of the season. Coach Fabian Hürzeler's team deservedly lost 1:3 (0:1) to the much-improved relegated Bundesliga team on Friday afternoon.
In front of 61,497 spectators at the sold-out Schalke Arena, Yusuf Kabadayi (44/73 minute) and Kenan Karaman (90+2) scored two goals for the Revierklub, who managed to move away from the relegation zone. Hamburg, who had been without a chance for a long time, only shortened the lead thanks to a deflected shot by Elias Saad (89').
The league leader, who until now had been so confident, was clearly inferior, barely posing a threat and narrowly avoiding an even bigger defeat. Additionally, Eric Smith was injured early and had to be substituted in the twelfth minute.
The gap to a non-promotion position could now be reduced to seven points for Hamburg this weekend. The previous last and first defeat of the season Saint Pauli three weeks ago in Magdeburg.
The third consecutive home victory was very important for Schalke. After the 3-0 defeat after an indisputable performance in Magdeburg, the mood in Gelsenkirchen had changed. On Monday, the team expressed its opinion internally in an intense discussion. Coach Karel Geraerts, who was under pressure, reacted with five changes to the starting eleven and was rewarded: it had been a long time since his team had shown themselves as committed and superior as they had against St. Pauli.
Point thanks to a penalty for Kiel
With great luck, Holstein Kiel avoided another major setback in the promotion race. The North Germans beat Hertha BSC with a 2-2 (0-2). The Berliners already looked like winners after two goals from Haris Tabakovic (17th/45th). But first Finn Porath shortened the score (80') and then the video referee intervened in added time. Referee Bastian Dankert called the foul and Timo Becker (90+8) scored a penalty.
While Hertha barely has any chance of returning to the Bundesliga despite four games unbeaten, the Kiel team was at least one point closer to the leader. FC San Pauli Move closer. However, Hamburger SV can knock their rival out of direct promotion with a win against VfL Osnabrück on Sunday.
Tabakovic (17th minute) caught a failed back pass from Kiel captain Philipp Sander and scored to give the hosts the lead in front of 46,835 spectators at the Olympic Stadium. Shortly before half-time, Tabakovic scored his 13th goal of the season.
Kiel tried to break the Berlin barrier with perseverance and order in the game. A week after the defeat in the wild main match against St. Pauli (3:4), the guests did not pose much of a goal threat for a long time.
The Berliners were closer to the third goal, although this time former Kiel player Fabian Reese was able to put less accents than usual. Jonjoe Kenny (59th) hit the crossbar with a free kick. When Porath scored from distance, things got exciting again in the finals. And then came a Linus Gechter foul in the box and Becker's late equalizer.