SPIELBERICHTE

Fortuna ride roller coaster to play-offs

Done! A crazy matchup between Fortuna and MSV Duisburg ended in a 2:2 draw (2:2). In an always exciting first half, goals by Oliver Fink and Assani Lukimya for Fortuna and Maurice Exslager and Jürgen Gjasula for St.Pauly contributed to the 2-2 score. Due to St. Pauli's 5-0 win over Paderborn, Fortuna are now playing for promotion against Hertha BSC Berlin.
In an encounter of high quality, the first half hour felt rather like a roller coaster ride with Fortuna suffering an immediate setback in the opening minutes. On eight minutes, Daniel Brosinski served Maurice Exslager who ran alone to face Michael Ratajczak. His shot for the 1-0 lead left the Düsseldorf keeper without a chance. But then, Fortuna, too, began to stir things up in front of the other goal. Bodzek Adam, who once played for the "Zebras", attempted an excellent chip shot which went just wide (13th).

Oliver Fink did better - after a superb cross from Thomas Bröker he knocked in the equalizer (18th). That swift response from coach Norbert Meier's team was topped even further moments later. A free kick received and finished by Assani Lukimya sent Fortuna in the lead (21st). Following big celebrations among Düsseldorf players, Exslager received a yellow-red card from referee Knut Kircher. But even one man down, Duisburg were still dangerous. One of their free kicks was unhappily deflected by Jürgen Gjasula and ended up in the back of the net - 2-2 (26th).

Even after the intense opening phase, things didn't settle down in the sold-out ESPRIT arena. On a beautiful corner taken by Ilsø, Bodzek placed a header past the Duisburg goal post (34th). Fortuna continued to engage in bold forward play and came up with a few good scenes. But the guests from Meiderich refused to surrender and resorted to attacking themselves. After an eventful first half, sides were changed under a 2-2 score.

Even though at half time FC St. Pauli were up 2-0 against Paderborn in distant Hamburg, Düsseldorf were anxious to ensure that they would get by even without Hamburg's helping hand. But to this end, another goal was sorely needed. On a corner, both Lukimya and Ilsø only missed the ball by inches (53th). Still, Fortuna did not relent. Sascha Rösler substitute Ranisav Jovanovic barely missed a cross from captain Andreas Lambertz with his toe (67th). In the following moments, Duisburg keeper Felix Wiewald was on hand first to save against Ilsø (69th) and then suberbly handled a distance shot by Bröker (71th). Shortly thereafter, no action was needed on his part as unmarked Fink lobbed the ball over the top from the far post (73).

Düsseldorf was forced to hang on with white knuckles thanks to an opponent who never ceased to fight back. Thus, Sun Brosinski had another go but Ratajczak had no trouble defusing his attempt (76). Then it was over! Thanks to FC St. Pauli's 5-0 win, Fortuna will go on with two more matches against Hertha BSC Berlin.