After previously winning three games in a row, 1. FC Heidenheim suffered an annoying defeat in Karlsruhe on Sunday – because the FCH was too inconsistent in the final third, as the coach noted.
It could have been a brilliant end to the first half of the season for Heidenheim: The fourth win in a row, coupled with moving up to the relegation place. After five minutes, Tim Kleindienst fired the visitors in exactly that direction, only to see Malik Batmaz equalise just two minutes later.
“We had a lot of work and a lot of problems with that “
However, coach Frank Schmidt saw how his team “showed a good reaction and created good offensive situations almost every minute. Our left side often made the breakthrough, but the truth is that we didn’t finish the game with enough goals,” said the 46-year-old. “KSC then switched and played a lot of long balls to Hofmann. We had a lot of work and a lot of problems with that,” Schmidt continued. Batmaz turned the game in KSC’s favour with his second goal before the break. Up until then, the Heidenheim side had actually been in control of the game, but only rarely showed themselves in front of the opponent’s goal.
After the change of ends, FCH seemed to be a little bit jolted and didn’t really get into the game. “KSC managed, “, analysed Schmidt, “to keep us away from the goal and we didn’t press as much. On a day like this, a lot of things come together: Marnon Busch’s arm was involved in a cross from a long distance” – referee Tobias Stieler pointed to the spot after 55 minutes for a handball penalty. Marvin Wanitzek sank the ball to make it 3:1
In the last few games we have often decided the games in our favour shortly before the end and today we have lost.
Now it needed a real wake-up call to get the now inconspicuous visitors back into the game. Kleindienst delivered that with a header after a corner kick (73rd), so that new strength was released in the final quarter of an hour. Heidenheim now started one attacking run after the other. “We had two or three outstanding chances to score, but Gersbeck held on for the win,” said Schmidt, rueing: “We should have at least made it 3:3. But in the last few games we have often decided the games in our favour just before the end and today we lost. “
Also positive aspects
Overall, the coach drew a positive conclusion from the performance in the first-round finale. Even though the result was not what he wanted, at least it was the “way we played, with a lot of possession and through the outsides. We tried everything and I can’t blame the team,” Schmidt added.
Next week, Heidenheim will start the second half of the season, playing SC Paderborn, who are level on points, at 13.30 on Saturday.
