As of: December 21, 2024 6:12 p.m
Newly promoted Holstein Kiel gave themselves and their supporters a huge gift three days before Christmas Eve with their second Bundesliga victory. The penultimate team in the table won 5-1 (4-1) against FC Augsburg on Sunday evening after falling behind and is heading into the winter break with renewed courage.
What a grandiose performance by the “Storks”! The second-worst home team in the league to date, which had previously lost six times at home, was unrecognizable that day shortly before Christmas. The promoted team played in a frenzy against FCA in the 15th round and deservedly got their second win of the season, which was so good after five defeats in a row.
“We just needed that.”
Phil Harris
“It’s indescribable!” said double goalscorer Phil Harres in an interview with NDR. “After conceding the goal, we stood together, ran for each other, fought for each other. And then you see what’s possible.”
Holstein coach Marcel Rapp's team now has eight points and is going into the winter break second to last in the table – but now with much more confidence. “I’m proud of the team,” Rapp told NDR. “Everyone was there for each other. We are well stocked with many players who have potential. We have to develop our potential and then we can have a good second half of the season.”
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The mood in the Holstein Stadium would certainly have been even happier if there hadn't been the terrible attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg the evening before. There was a minute's silence before the meeting.
Keel device lagging behind early…
Rapp had already gone into the party confident because the Holstein coach had hoped that an award would give him an “extra motivational kick” for the meeting with the Fuggerstadt team – his team had been named Schleswig-Holstein’s “Team of the Year” during the week .
However, the title did not lead to increased vigilance in the initial phase. At first, Marko Ivezic proved to be far too inactive. The Serb allowed Samuel Essende to pass over the right side of Kiel and pass the ball towards the edge of the penalty area, where four Holstein professionals failed to block Augsburg's Alexis Claude-Maurice's low shot – 1-0 for FCA (5th).
…and then comes back brilliantly
However, the newcomer quickly got back together and delivered the perfect answer: After Shuto Machino's beautiful back pass from the goal line, Lasse Rosenboom scored to make it 1-1 (12th). And what came next was simply magnificent from Kiel’s perspective. The “Storks”, who had previously only managed a total of 14 goals in the 14 games of the season, played in a frenzy and quickly scored at will.
Harres with a brace, Machino increases to 4:1
First, Harres put together a brace three days before Christmas Eve: the striker first scored with a header (32nd), then with a right-footed shot to make it 3-1 (35th). But the promoted team didn't stop there: Machino curled the ball into the Augsburg goal with a free kick from 18 meters – 4-1 for the second-to-last team in the table!
Since Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima missed a great chance in stoppage time in the first half, Kiel went into the break with an impressive lead. It was clearly Kiel's best half in the Bundesliga.
According to VAR: Harres' third goal disallowed
And the Schleswig-Holsteiners' scoring quickly continued shortly after the restart. Alexander Bernhardsson made it 5-1 when he failed to hit the ball correctly seven meters in front of the Augsburg goal (52'). In the 68th minute, the Holstein fans cheered again – but too early. After VAR intervention, Harres' goal was disallowed because of a previous foul by Max Geschwill from Kiel against Marius Wolf.
Machino ensures the coronation with the 5:1
Augsburg did have opportunities as the game progressed. But the KSV didn't allow anything at the back and crowned the strong overall performance at the front: After a wonderful combination, Machino made the final score 5-1 (90th + 1). The rest was frenetic cheering in the Holstein Stadium.
Matchday 15, December 21, 2024 3:30 p.m
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