Hallescher FC bids farewell to third division with partial success

Halle FC bowed out of the third division after twelve years with a partial victory. Coach Stefan Reisinger's charges drew 1-1 (1-1) with the second team of BVB Borussia Dortmund in their final game of the season on Saturday. In front of 7853 spectators at the Leuna Chemie Stadium, Franz Roggow (14th minute) put the visitors in front. Meris Skenderovic equalized in the 29th minute.

Before kick-off, the club announced that goalkeeper Sven Müller would remain with HFC. However, the Red & Whites also had to swallow a bitter pill. Captain Jonas Nietfeld suffered a serious knee injury in the 32nd minute. An exact diagnosis is expected shortly.

The hosts clearly set the tone at first. Skenderovic's header (10th) and Brian Behrendt's shot (14th) flew just over the crossbar of the visitors' goal. Dortmund, on the other hand, took the lead with their first shot on goal. Roggow converted a free-kick directly from 19 meters. HFC's reply was not long in coming. A quarter of an hour later, BVB keeper Marcel Lotka could only let a shot from Timur Gayret bounce. Skenderovic dusted off the ball to equalize.

The second half got off to a turbulent start. First, Skenderovic (53) hit the post. Gayret chased the follow-up shot across the box. Two minutes later, Bjarne Pudel headed the ball onto the bottom edge of the crossbar of the Halle goal. Roggow (57) only hit the outside of the net after a wonderful move. A minute later, Gayret, who hesitated too long, gave HFC the lead. The game flattened out in the final half hour.