Matchwinner Cigerci: Cottbus edges closer to second-tier promotion, while Essen remains in contention and Rostock lurks.
Energie Cottbus took a major leap toward promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, thanks to a late goal from Tolga Cigerci. On matchday 37 of the 3. Liga, Claus-Dieter Wollitz’s side secured a 2-1 victory over Wehen Wiesbaden, propelling them into second place—a direct promotion spot—with a two-point cushion over third. Rot-Weiss Essen also kept their hopes alive, edging SC Verl 1-0, and capitalized on MSV Duisburg’s slip-up in Aue (0-0) to level on points with their rivals heading into the final matchday. But pressure is mounting from behind: Hansa Rostock remains in striking distance after a thrilling 5-3 win over Stuttgart II, thanks to a superior goal difference.
Wehen Wiesbaden struck first through Lukas Schleimer in the 37th minute, but Cottbus equalized quickly with a goal from Moritz Hannemann (41′). The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Cigerci produced a brilliant solo effort. Essen’s golden moment arrived in the 50th minute, with Gianluca Swajkowski netting his first goal of the season to secure all three points. Rostock, after their win against VfB Stuttgart’s reserves, now trail Duisburg and Essen by three points. The advantage for Hansa lies in their goal difference: at +24, they have the best mark among teams still in contention for the relegation playoff spot.
Duisburg (+17) and Essen (+11) are less well-positioned in that regard. Both MSV and RWE head into the final matchday with 67 points each, while Rostock sits at 64. This means if Hansa wins away at Saarbrücken on the last day, and both Duisburg and Essen lose, Rostock would at least secure the playoff place. Cottbus, with 69 points and a +20 goal difference, could afford a draw in Regensburg on the final day. Duisburg hosts Viktoria Köln, while Essen travels to Ulm.
Champions and promoted side Osnabrück played out a 1-1 draw against SSV Ulm in their penultimate match. Dennis Chessa gave the already-relegated Ulm the lead (26′), but Lars Kehl equalized for Timo Schultz’s side before halftime (44′). In Saturday’s other game, TSV 1860 Munich fell 1-2 to FC Ingolstadt, with neither side having anything left to play for.
