Holstein Kiel lost 1:2 to FC Schalke 04 at Holstein-Stadion on Sunday, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. Relegation fears are mounting as sports director Olaf Rebbe defends coach Marcel Rapp. On a positive note, fans donated over 14,000 euros to charitable causes.
The match against Schalke 04 ended in a 1:2 defeat for Holstein Kiel, pushing the Storks deeper into the relegation zone of the 2. Bundesliga. Kenan Karaman scored the opener for the visitors from a corner in the 16th minute, followed by Hasan Kurucay's header to make it 2:0 in the 30th minute. David Zec converted a penalty in the 55th minute to pull one back, but no further goals came. A potential equalizer by Phil Harres in the 33rd minute was disallowed for a foul. Kiel's defense showed weaknesses on set pieces, as coach Marcel Rapp admitted: "We lost because we defended the set pieces poorly. The performance was better, but that doesn't buy us anything."
Midfielder Jonas Meffert stated: "This game leaves a bad feeling. The most important thing is that we stick together in this phase and collect points as quickly as possible." Fans booed the team at halftime with chants like "We want to see you fight." Sports director Olaf Rebbe defended Rapp: "We're all in the same boat: coach, staff, team. And we have a clear task. That's to win the game next weekend." He criticized the current trend and urged players to provide their own impetus: "The situation annoys us all." Missing players like Alexander Bernhardsson, who is set to return soon, complicate matters. The away game at Karlsruher SC on Saturday at 1 p.m. will be crucial.
Despite the sporting setback, there was a bright spot: The fan group "Block 501" presented around 14,200 euros from a December Christmas market during the match. The donation goes to the Malteser cold-weather bus, the Uhlenkrog animal shelter, the "Trauernde Kinder" association, and the Awo girls' home in Kiel. Chairman Jens Hageböcker said: "Next year everyone brings a friend, and then we'll double it."