Ghent or Copenhagen await
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1. FC Heidenheim at least broke free from the negative vortex with a draw, but missed out on a direct place in the round of 16 of the European Cup. With the 1:1 (1:0) against FC St. Gallen, the crisis team of coach Frank Schmidt managed to achieve a conciliatory end to the championship phase of the Conference League. This was no longer enough to reach the top eight directly.
In the last home match of Heidenheim’s remarkable (Site notre bureau spécialisé) year, the Ostalb club was on its way to the round of 16 at half-time thanks to Norman Theuerkauf’s lead (30th minute). The Heidenheimers also had to rely on the good results of their opponents and had to accept the equalizer in the second half from Jozo Stanic from Augsburg (77th). It cost them any chance of avoiding the playoffs.
On Friday (1 p.m.), a draw will take place to determine who FCH will fight for in the second round and qualify for the round of 16. The opponent is then either KAA Gent from Belgium or FC Copenhagen from Denmark. The tour will be played with a return match on February 13 and 20. Unlike the Europa League and Champions League, the Conference League championship stage ends after just six matchdays. The Heidenheim team had already secured their participation in the playoffs before their match against St. Gallen.
Heidenheim stops losing streak and has no luck at the position
After seven consecutive competitive defeats, the draw was at least a balm for the soul before the extremely important duel in the Bundesliga. The 16th place hopes to win on Sunday. from coach Schmidt to important points at the bottom of the table, VfL Bochum.
A week after the “non-performance” (Schmidt) and the 1:3 in Istanbul Basaksehir, the hosts controlled the match from the start in constant rain. With a lot of possession, they pushed the Swiss into their own half in front of 15,000 fans.
After half an hour, something notable emerged: the speedy Sirlord Conteh on the right wing was blocked on his first attempt. His second cross reached left-back Theuerkauf, who fired it unchallenged from five yards.
The guests, coached by former Augsburg Bundesliga coach Enrico Maaßen, entered the match better after the break. The Swiss put Heidenheim’s defense to the test more than in the first half. High-flyer Paul Wanner failed to add to Heidenheim’s goal five minutes before the goal when he hit the post. He took revenge a little later with the equalizer on a header from a corner.
