The SpVgg Greuther Fürth has taken the tension in the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga to the extreme. In the top game against Holstein Kiel, the Fürth team won 2: 1 (1: 1) and closed on points to Kiel, Hamburger SV and VfL Bochum. The four teams have now all collected 42 points – the best goal difference currently speaks for HSV, with Kiel in fourth place. Havard Nielsen (27th minute) and Alexander Mühling scored the goals for the hosts with an own goal (83rd), Joshua Mees had put Kiel in the lead.
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The Fürth team went into this top game weakened, with Sebastian Ernst (yellow-red suspension), Paul Seguin (5th yellow card), Mergim Mavraj (thigh injury) and Julian Green (corona infection) missing four key players. That was noticeable to the hosts throughout the first half, Kiel was clearly the better team. Nevertheless, it was only enough to draw at the break because Fabian Reese and Lee Jae-sung did not take advantage of the many good scoring opportunities.
Holstein took the lead early on when central defender Hauke Wahl opened the game strongly and the ball came to Mees via Niklas Hauptmann and Reese and the midfielder pushed in with a little luck. Fürth needed an individual service to compensate. After a cross from David Raum, Nielsen headed heavily from twelve meters on the Kiel goal – goalkeeper Ioannis Gelios stretched in vain.
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In the second half the Kiel started similarly dominant, but hardly had any scoring chances – only Lee should have scored from close range (63rd). Fürth managed to make the game more open and was rewarded in the final phase. Raum brought in a corner kick and Mühling scored in his own goal while trying to save Maximilian Bauer, who was ready to go.
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