Three-pack Kutschke delighted with "bonus" for Dynamo

Kutschke's treble secures Dynamo victory

Dynamo Dresden were fully convincing at Viktoria Köln thanks to striker Stefan Kutschke's treble. The 5-1 win at the previously unbeaten Rhinelanders not only secured their lead at the top of the third division table, but was also "a treat" and redemption for captain Kutschke: "We had the second leg last season with the missed penalty." This time, the 35-year-old converted two penalties (17./45.+4). "That was the beauty," he said. And Kutschke scored another goal (86'). Niklas Hauptmann (32) and Robin Meißner (83) scored the other Dynamo goals. Only Donny Bogicevic (55) was successful for the hosts.

The visitors from Dresden began with a lot of possession. After a good quarter of an hour, Paul Will managed to get a shot on goal from a free-kick, which hit Christoph Greger on the arm. Kutschke converted the penalty into the right-hand corner. The second penalty kick was preceded by a foul on Jakob Lemmer by Greger, who had already been cautioned. The Cologne player was shown yellow and red. The goal to make it 1:3 seemed to give the hosts new courage. However, substitute Meißner decided the game against his former club before Kutschke scored again. "Kutsche took both penalties. He has to lead the way as captain, so I'm delighted that he scored," said Dynamo coach Markus Anfang on TV channel MagentaSport.

Aue must close the gap on the leaders

After their second winless game in a row, Erzgebirge Aue have lost touch with the top of the table. Pavel Dotchev's team were held to a goalless draw by neighbors SpVgg Unterhaching on Saturday. In front of 5,000 spectators at uhlsport PARK, Nico Vukancic missed a great chance to win with a header from close range (86th minute). Aue thus remain level on points behind Unterhaching in seventh place in the table. "We managed to play to nil. The only thing we didn't manage to do was capitalize on our scoring chances," said Dotchev, adding: "The table is meaningful after so many matchdays and doesn't lie. We've dropped a lot of important points. We're not a top team and I hope we'll develop into one."

Marvin Stefaniak, who only hit the post from a half-left position in the 26th minute, also sees room for improvement despite the "hard-fought game": "We're missing small nuances, we need to do little things better. We need to be better defensively and be more ruthless in front of goal."

Halle take nothing despite taking the lead

Halle FC suffered a setback in their fight to stay in the league. Coach Sreto Ristic's charges lost 3:2 (2:3) at SC Verl on Saturday despite taking the lead. Dominic Baumann had put the Red & Whites ahead after just four minutes. However, the hosts turned the deficit into a 3-1 lead through Nicolas Sessa (17th penalty), Torge Paetow (26th) and Oliver Batista Meier (43rd), before Enrique Lofolomo scored the equalizer in first-half stoppage time. The eighth defeat of the season threatens to plunge Halle into the relegation zone. Verl set a club record with their seventh game without defeat.

"We actually played a very good away game and would have deserved a point, which would have been important for morale. Unfortunately, we completely slept through a few minutes of the game," said HFC coach Ristic.

The visitors started strongly. After a cross from Lofolomo, Baumann converted Halle's first chance to score his tenth goal of the season. The Verlers then put HFC under massive pressure. Halle keeper Moritz Schulze reacted superbly to Maximilian Wolfram's header (14'), but was powerless to save Sessa's penalty. After Marl Corboz (19) hit the post, Paetow (26) put the home side in front. The visitors then stepped up their attacking efforts, but conceded the third goal through Batista Meier. Lofolomo kept the visitors' hopes of a point alive with his header to make it 3-2.

After the break, Halle continued to set the tone. Baumann (59') narrowly missed the target with his header. Verl goalkeeper Luca Unbehaun saved Tunay Deniz's shot (63') with great difficulty. Two minutes later, Deniz's free-kick hit the inside of the post. However, Verl remained dangerous at all times. Corboz (78) also hit the post. Fabio Gruber (83') failed to score against HFC keeper Schulze, who reacted brilliantly. Five minutes before the final whistle, Sebastian Zielenecki missed the last chance to equalize. His header whizzed just inches past the opposing box.