Paderborn 5-3 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Zehtner (2′), 2-0 Obermaier (pen, 8′), 3-0 Bibija (15′), 3-1 Hanslik (pen, 45’+1), 3-2 Ache (pen 45’+8), 3-3 Ache (61′), 4-3 Grimaldi (72′), Zehnter (90’+5)
Paderborn reduced the gap to leaders Hamburg to just three points following an eight-goal thriller that seemed dead and buried after 15 minutes, only for Kaiserslautern to stage a thrilling comeback with two goals in first-half stoppage time. The home side wrestled back control in the second period in a result which stopped their guests leapfrogging them into second place in the league. A classic promotion six-pointer that had it all. Drama to the very end.
Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-0 Jahn Regensburg
Goals: 1-0 Zimmermann (41’)
Looking to overturn a run of two consecutive defeats, Fortuna began the afternoon against bottom-placed Regensburg on the back foot, with the visitors going close early on through Noah Ganaus and Sargis Adamyan. Düsseldorf grew into the game, however, taking the lead five minutes before half-time thanks to an improvised finish from Matthias Zimmermann. The hosts continued to dominate in the second half, barely allowing Regensburg a chance, and deserved the three points, but couldn’t find another way past Julian Pollersbeck, who was in inspired form.
Elversberg 0-1 Preußen Münster
Goals: 0-1 Scherder (70’)
Following a hard-fought draw away at Kaiserslautern last time out, Elversberg were hoping to get their promotion bid back on track. The visitors, in a relegation battle, made life very hard for Elversberg, who enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and chances, with Fisnik Asllani and Muhammed Damar looking particularly lively. However, a 70th minute corner for the visitors found Simon Scherder unmarked at the back post for a tap in. The resilient Münster outfit sat back, managing to defend their slender lead, to mark the first time Elversberg have failed to score in a home game this season.
Cologne 2-1 Darmstadt
Goals: 1-0 Thielmann (1’), 1-1 Hornby (pen, 25’), 2-1 Waldschmidt (pen 80’)
Red cards: Hornby (66’)
A deserved victory for the home side, who took a first-minute lead through Jan Thielmann and then bossed the game for 90 minutes. Darmstadt threatened an upset after scoring a first-half equaliser from the penalty spot through Fraser Hornby but then spent the rest of the game camped inside their own half. Once down to 10 men in the 66th minute, following Hornby’s second yellow, they crumbled, conceding a penalty – converted by Luca Waldschmidt in the 80th minute – and never looking capable of getting back in it. Cologne move up to second, just a point behind Hamburg, leapfrogging Paderborn in the process.
Magdeburg 0-3 Hamburg
Goals: 0-1 Königsdörffer (9′), 0-2 Mathisen (og, 15′), 0-3 Königsdörffer (53′)
Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer starred as Hamburg cemented top spot with a comfortable win away to Magdeburg, who began the weekend only three points behind the leaders. The Berlin-born forward hammered in the opening goal with under 10 minutes on the clock, before whipping in a cross that Marcus Mathisen inadvertently put past his own goalkeeper for 2-0. HSV were in total control as Königsdörffer added his second soon after the restart, but Magdeburg didn’t wilt and had chances to reduce the arrears in the final 15 minutes. At the other end, meanwhile, only the woodwork denied Königsdörffer his hat-trick.
Watch: Magdeburg 0-3 Hamburg – highlights
