Undav rescues Stuttgart with 3-3 draw
Germany forward Deniz Undav scored late to salvage a 3-3 draw for Stuttgart at last-place Heidenheim as the Bundesliga’s relegation scrap and race for Champions League qualification converged. Stuttgart stayed fourth in the last qualification spot for Europe’s premier club competition, but it missed the chance to move four points above fifth-place Leipzig, held 2-2 by Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Heidenheim almost scored a late winner in stoppage time that would have narrowed the gap on second-last Werder Bremen to just three points before their clash in Bremen next weekend.
Adam Kolle headed just wide in stoppage time for Heidenheim. Chris Fuhrich fired Stuttgart into an early lead before Eren Dinkci replied for Heidenheim. Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic thought he had made it 2-1 on a counterattack but the goal was ruled out and a penalty awarded to Heidenheim after a VAR check found Maximilian Mittelstadt had fouled Dinkci in the area at the other end.
Arijon Ibrahimovic converted Heidenheim’s penalty to make it 2-1 to the home team instead. Mittelstadt atoned for conceding the spot kick by converting another penalty for 2-2 in the 44th. Demirovic had another goal ruled out through VAR for offside in the second half, and Heidenheim substitute Sirlord Conteh scored what he hoped was the winner in the 82nd after Ibrahimovic’s initial effort was saved.
