Soccer-Scienza's last-gasp goal saves Heidenheim, ends Elversberg's Bundesliga dream
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Conference League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - 1. FC Heidenheim v FC Copenhagen - Voith-Arena, Heidenheim, Germany - February 20, 2025 1. FC Heidenheim's Leo Scienza celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo
ELVERSBERG, Germany (Reuters) - Bundesliga side Heidenheim retained their spot in the top flight as Leo Scienza struck deep into stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 win at Elversberg in the second leg of the relegation playoff on Monday.
Having battled back to draw 2-2 at home in the first leg, Heidenheim, who finished in 16th place in the Bundesliga, edged a spirited Elversberg, who have never played in the top flight, 4-3 on aggregate.
Mathias Honsak fired Heidenheim ahead after nine minutes, latching onto a slick through ball from Scienza, who had surged forward after winning possession in midfield.
Elversberg equalised in the 31st minute after a great run by Tom Zimmerschied who set up captain Robin Fellhauer in front of goal to coolly finish past the goalkeeper.
The hosts thought they had gone in front two minutes after the break when Fisnik Asllani turned home from close range, but the goal was chalked off following a VAR review for offside.
Despite dominating possession, Elversberg failed to find a breakthrough, and their dream of reaching the Bundesliga slipped away when Scienza capped a great team move five minutes into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among the visiting fans.
Heidenheim will play their second Bundesliga season, while VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel were relegated from the top flight. Cologne and Hamburg SV won automatic promotion to the top division.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Roma appoint former Atalanta coach Gasperini as new manager
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Monza v Atalanta - U-Power Stadium, Monza, Italy - May 4, 2025 Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini during the match REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo/File Photo (Reuters) -Former Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been appointed AS Roma's new manager, the Serie A club said on Friday, with the 67-year-old signing a three-year contract. Gasperini left Atalanta on Saturday after nine years in charge, and will replace the retired Claudio Ranieri at Roma who finished fifth in the standings last season to qualify for the Europa League, a trophy Gasperini won with his previous club. Ranieri became Roma's third managerial appointment last season when the 73-year-old came out of retirement to return for his third spell in charge at the club where he began his playing career and now has an advisory role. Gasperini announced in February that he would not be signing a new deal at Atalanta, with his contract ending in June and while there was an option to extend it by a year, he decided the time was right to move on. "Gasperini's career is defined by its creative tactics, dedication to hard work, and exceptional player development," a Roma club statement said. "Both ownership and Claudio Ranieri believe Gasperini is the right man for the mission." He helped take Atalanta from Serie A strugglers to regular European football, winning the Europa League in 2024, which was not only the club's maiden European triumph, but Gasperini's first trophy in a long managerial career which began in 2003. Gasperini began his coaching career at Crotone and has also managed Genoa, Inter Milan and Palermo, but made a name for himself at Atalanta, achieving European qualification in his first season after an absence of 26 years for the club. Atalanta led the Serie A standings last season in December and were involved in the title race for a long period before finishing third for the fourth time under Gasperini. Roma won the Conference League in 2022 and were losing finalists in the Europa League the following year and will look to Gasperini to take them back to Champions League football for the first time since 2019. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes)
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Soccer-Promoted Cologne appoint Kwasniok as manager
Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - FC Cologne v Kaiserslautern - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 18, 2025 FC Cologne players celebrate winning the 2. Bundesliga trophy REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler (Reuters) - Cologne have appointed Lukas Kwasniok as their new manager, the newly-promoted Bundesliga club said on Friday, with the Polish born 43-year-old signing a three-year contract. Kwasniok managed German second-tier side Paderborn for the past four seasons, narrowly missing out on promotion in his final campaign when finishing fourth in the standings, while Cologne won the division. "Over several years in Paderborn, he has impressively shown that he can develop a team, play attractive and successful football and promote young players to a higher level," Cologne Sporting Director Thomas Kessler said in a club statement. Gerhard Struber was Cologne manager last season until his dismissal, along with Sporting Director Christian Keller, with just two games remaining after the club slipped to second spot and their automatic promotion was at risk. Cologne appointed Friedhelm Funkel until the end of the season, who won the final two matches to clinch top spot in his third spell at the club, but have now opted to go with Kwasniok whose playing career in Germany was cut short by injury. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
‘We can achieve great things at Real Madrid' says Alonso
Xabi Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028. (EPA Images pic) MADRID : Xabi Alonso promised a new era for Real Madrid after being unveiled as manager on Monday, confident he can achieve important things as he builds on the legacy left behind by his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti. Alonso was appointed manager on Sunday, returning to the Santiago Bernabeu where he spent six seasons as a player and won several trophies. The 43-year-old had been in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, who he guided to a double last season as they won the German Cup and lifted their first Bundesliga title without losing a game. 'Without a doubt, this is a very special day for me. A day that I will have marked in my calendar for life. I am very happy to be here, in what I feel is my home,' said Alonso, who will begin his tenure on June 1 ahead of the Club World Cup. 'The bond with Madrid has never ceased to exist and, since I entered Valdebebas (training centre) an hour and a half ago, that feeling has been reborn. I have the feeling that this is the beginning of a new era. 'We have a great team, we have fantastic players and a very good potential. That gives me reason to come here with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We have the conviction that we can achieve important things, worthy of Real Madrid and these European Cups.' New-look real? Asked what style of play he would implement at Real, Alonso told reporters: 'It's a good question and I like it because today's football asks you to be flexible and dynamic. It asks you to know how to move the pieces around. 'I have an idea of how we want to play, but the system can change. I want the team to transmit emotion, energy, to play ambitiously and to connect with the people. 'The symbiosis we are looking for is fundamental for the stage to start well. I like to improve everyone's potential to fit the pieces together.' Lofty standards Alonso takes charge of a Real side who had a sub-par season by their own lofty standards, finishing second in LaLiga behind Barcelona, who also beat them in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals. They were knocked out of the Champions League as holders in the quarter-finals by Arsenal. A key issue Real faced this season was getting the best out of attackers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, with both preferring to play on the left wing. 'It's fortunate that we have players of that level. Not just Kylian or Vinicius, but many others,' Alonso said. 'They are differential, they make the difference and we have to get everything out of them. I have ideas. There is still time until we meet with them. But, for me, it's very important to communicate what we want. They are high-level players and that's my task.' Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028 and replaces Ancelotti, who took charge of his last game on Saturday. In his address at the presentation, the Spaniard paid tribute to his former coach. 'Before I start talking about the new era, I don't want to forget to talk about the era that has just ended,' Alonso said. 'Carlo was my coach, a great person and a huge influence. Without his mastery, I probably wouldn't be here. I take over and carry on his legacy with great honour and pride. 'I hope to live up to expectations and be able to take the club to all the places we all believe we can,' he said. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
