After twelve years in the 3rd division, Hallescher FC are on the brink of relegation to the Regionalliga. Coach Stefan Reisinger's charges were held to a goalless draw by Arminia Bielefeld in the penultimate match of the third division season on Saturday. If Mannheim win at home against SV Sandhausen, the Saalestadt side will be relegated. The hosts, on the other hand, secured their place in the league with the draw.
The team from Halle took their hearts in both hands and were the better team before the break on the Bielefeld Alm. Tom Baumgart (2) and Meris Skenderovic (3) had the lead for the visitors on their feet, but were denied by Bielefeld's brilliantly reacting goalkeeper Jonas Kersken. After that, the game was a bit of a limp affair. Bielefeld only woke up after half an hour. HFC goalkeeper Sven Müller made a great reflex save from Louis Oppie's shot (35') to prevent the visitors from going behind and also saved Fabian Klos' two headers (36', 42'). On the counter-attack, Halle once again looked dangerous in front of their opponents' goal. After a pass from Niklas Landgraf, Tunay Deniz put the ball over the bar from 16 meters out.
After the break, however, Arminia took the initiative. Müller held on to the draw with two brilliant saves from Leon Schneider (52') and Fabian Klos (65'). Marius Wörl (55) missed a cross by just centimeters. The visitors stepped up the pace again in the final quarter of an hour, but Deniz (75) and Dominic Baumann (79) again missed the chance to take the lead. Henry Crostwhaite chased the ball onto the post of the Bielefeld goal in stoppage time.
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