League leaders SSV Ulm won the top game of the 3rd league against pursuers Jahn Regensburg and took a big step towards promotion. A magic goal was crucial.
In terms of intensity, duels and speed, the top game between Ulm and Regensburg lived up to its name. As far as the goals were concerned, it wasn’t for a long time: But then Ulm’s Brazilian high-class technician Léonardo Scienza went for a solo, delicately danced past several Regensburg players and served Felix Higl perfectly with a dream pass. Higl pushed the ball into the goal to make it 1-0 (0-0) (70th minute) and thus decided the game.
“It’s crazy, just crazy,” said a happy Scienza after the game about the euphoria in Ulm. “I’m at a loss for words, I’m enjoying the moment, but we also have to stay calm because nothing has been decided yet.”
Ulm’s promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga is very close
With four game days to go, the Ulm team (65 points) are four points ahead of Regensburg, seven ahead of Preußen Münster (relegation place) and ten ahead of fourth-placed Dynamo Dresden. 23 years after Ulm last played in the second highest German league, promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga is getting closer and closer. “Today we got three more points, that’s brilliant for us,” said Ulm coach Thomas Wörle and added: “The next four games are waiting for us, we haven’t achieved anything yet.”
Intense top game
The 16,030 spectators in Ulm’s Danube Stadium saw an exciting and fast-paced top game from the start. The league leaders from Ulm started with the confidence that they had not lost a game this year. Their pursuers Regensburg scored seven points in the last three games.
And the good form of both teams was also evident on the pitch: both played concentrated, aggressively and, above all, hardly made any mistakes. In this respect, it was logical that the game initially lacked any great chances.
Ulm goalkeeper Ortag makes two good saves
The guests from Regensburg had the first notable scene when Noah Ganaus tried a shot from distance (7th minute), but goalkeeper Christian Ortag failed. The Ulm goalkeeper was there after half an hour. Ganaus took a low shot from a tight angle after a through pass.
Ulm struggled, got better and better into the game, combined a few times in front of and into the visitors’ penalty area and created set-piece situations. But it wasn’t seriously dangerous at first.
Scienza’s solo and Higl’s ice-cold finish
That changed in the second round. Lennart Stoll could have given the hosts the lead when he finished after a header from Felix Higl. However, his volley from close range was too unplaced (57′).
The Ulm team got stronger, which the fans in the stadium also noticed and loudly cheered on their team. Driven by this, Scienza took courage, dribbled away and decided the game with his magical solo on the goalscorer Higl.
Shortly before the end, Philipp Strompf even had the opportunity to make it 2-0 after a corner from Scienza. Regensburg’s goalkeeper Felix Gebhardt was able to parry his header from close range with a great effort. The guests also had a great opportunity, but Jonas Bauer finished too unplaced. It remained 1-0.
The next tasks
SSV Ulm will play against SC Freiburg II, who have already been relegated, next weekend (April 28th, 4:30 p.m.). Regensburg welcomes Dynamo Dresden (April 27th, 2 p.m.).
Broadcast on Sunday, April 21, 2024, 10:05 p.m., SWR Sport, SWR
