Heidenheim's European Cup victory story continues to unfold.
The inaugural Europa League outing for FC Heidenheim turns out to be a winning affair, setting up a promising prospect for advancement to the Conference League group stage. In the initial leg of the playoffs, the Swabian Bundesliga team clinched a 2-1 victory over previous Swedish title-holders BK Häcken, with an away scoreline of 1-2 (1-1).
Goals were struck by newcomers Sirlord Conteh (31st minute) and Leonardo Scienza (65th) for the visiting team, while Mikkel Rygaard (36th) managed to notch an equalizer for the hosts. The forthcoming rematch is scheduled for next Thursday on the Ostalb turf. Prior to that, FC Heidenheim will embark on their new Bundesliga journey with an away game against newly promoted FC St. Pauli (5:15 PM/DAZN).
Schmidt brings forth an unexpected lineup - Conteh marks the occasion
Heidenheim's head coach Frank Schmidt opted for a surprising starting lineup, retaining only captain Patrick Mainka and striker Scienza from the 4-0 triumph against regional side FC 08 Villingen in the DFB-Pokal. The guests initially grappled with the artificial turf utilized by Häcken, leading to turnovers in promising positions due to the wet conditions by players Mikkel Kaufmann and Mathias Honsak.
After roughly 30 minutes, recent acquisition Conteh from Paderborn took advantage of a blunder by the Swedish defense to net Heidenheim's first-ever Europa League goal. Shortly after, Rygaard drew level with a precise shot.
Scienza's curved strike seals the deal
Ten minutes into the second half, Swede Amor Layouni squandered a glorious chance to net the equalizer, but Heidenheim showcased their attacking prowess once again. A curling effort by Ulm recruit and technically skilled Scienza found the inside of the post, making its way into the net.
Approximately 500 fans accompanied Heidenheim on their journey to Sweden. In their debut season in the Bundesliga, Heidenheim finished an impressive eighth position and managed to secure a spot in the Conference League playoffs.
Sirlord Conteh, who joined Heidenheim from Paderborn, scored the team's first-ever Europa League goal against previous Swedish title-holders BK Häcken, helping the Swabian Bundesliga team secure a 2-1 victory in Sweden. With this win, FC Heidenheim, a team from Sweden, advanced to the Conference League group stage, marking an extraordinary accomplishment for the club.
