Holstein Kiel settled for a 2:2 draw in the 2. Bundesliga away at DSC Arminia Bielefeld after leading 2:0. The turning point was Ivan Nekic's red card in the 67th minute, leading to a penalty and the comeback goal. Despite securing a point, the Kiel side regrets missed opportunities.
The match on Friday evening at Bielefeld's Alm stadium started evenly, without clear scoring chances. Holstein Kiel, fielding the same starting lineup as in their previous 2:0 win against SC Paderborn 07, needed over 30 minutes for their first real opportunity. In the 34th minute, Leon Schneider scored an own goal from a pass by Phil Harres, giving Kiel a 1:0 lead.
Just before halftime, Ivan Nekic made it 2:0 with a header from a corner by Niklas Niehoff (45.+2). After the break, Harres missed a three-on-two situation in the 51st minute by shooting selfishly. Nekic saved a goal-bound effort from Monju Momuluh in the 54th minute.
The turning point came in the 67th minute: The already cautioned Nekic fouled substitute Marius Wörl in the penalty area and received a yellow-red card. Joel Grodowski converted the penalty to make it 1:2 (70.). Bielefeld increased the pressure and equalized in the 87th minute through Sarenren Bazee. In front of 24,886 spectators, the game ended 2:2.
KSV coach Marcel Rapp was disappointed: “It feels weird. Until the yellow-red card, I would have said we couldn't lose this game or even draw it.” Captain Steven Skrzybski saw a positive: “In the first half of the season, we would have lost this game.” The draw halts the streak of two wins and likely cost two points due to Nekic's mistake and squandered chances.
