1. FC Heidenheim responded to a losing streak against Schalke 04 with a cohesive team performance and cheered on a deserved 1-0 win shortly before the end.
Three games, 2:11 goals, zero points – FCH had a real slump before the Schalke game. Frank Schmidt reacted with a new tactic: “We changed things up a bit and brought in two sixes. That was important in front of the chain,” commented the Heidenheim coach on the 4-2-3-1 system he practised this time.
Despite the somewhat more defensive alignment, the long-term coach was able to note “five or six really good opportunities” for his charges in the end. They found the right mixture, did not defend too high, but also did not act too passively. Schmidt also praised the body language. “You could see today that when we are with ourselves and have the self-confidence, we play to win until the end. That also includes the standards. We were prepared for that and ready to take this chance.
“Hüsing strikes very late
No sooner said than done: Oliver Hüsing was on the spot after a free-kick cross from Tobias Mohr, who had already made the crossbar tremble in the first period, and headed into the corner (89th). “I hit the ball perfectly and it went in – pure emotion, it doesn’t get any better than that! That’s why we all love football. Here on the Ostalb, fog, cold, Schalke 04 comes and you have goose bumps. That’s all you can do,” said the match-winner, who was also defensively solid and thus earned the nomination for “Player of the Match”, exuberantly after his second goal of the season.
Thanks to the last-minute win, Heidenheim have collected 18 points and are back in touch with the top third of the table. On Sunday (13.30) at Erzgebirge Aue, the Swabians will certainly be aiming to improve on their turnaround.