Late winner for U19s against Bielefeld

Jakub Bednarczyk scores on 91 minutes to secure a late three-to win for the Werkself youngsters.

The final stages of the race for one of the two places for the German Championship finals in the U19 Bundesliga is really exciting. With two games to play, the home win against Bielefeld takes the Bayer 04 U19s (53 points) past Schalke 04 (0-2 at RW Essen) into second place on goal difference and puts them in touching distance with league leaders Borussia Dortmund (2-2 at Wuppertal, 55 points).

Next Sundays top match between Schalke 04 and the Leverkusen U19s could prove to be decisive in achieving a place in the German Championship semi-finals.

Setbacks overcome

The U19s clearly showed they have the nerves for a tight run-in against Bielefeld. The team coached by Markus von Ahlen and Iraklis Metaxas twice took the lead. The opening goal was scored by central defender Joel Abu Hanna on 26 minutes.

After Bielefeld levelled in added time in the first half, Tim Handwerker restored the lead from the penalty spot on 68 minutes. However, Bielefeld fought back to equalise at 2-2 five minutes later. "Both times we kept the opponent in the game through being careless," admitted Ahlen.

Salvation through Bednarczyk

The Werkself youngsters refused to give up, were determined to take all three points and maintain belief to the end. After a good move down the left it was striker Bednarczyk who made it 3-2 on 91 minutes with his 12th goal of the season to secure the win.

The U19s face a busy week: First of all, there is the semi-final of the Middle Rhine Cup against local rivals FC Köln on Wednesday (19.00 CET, Ulrich Haberland Stadium before Sunday's showdown away to Schalke 04 (13.00 CET, Gelsenkirchen) on the penultimate matchday.

"Nobody would have counted on that at the winter break," said coach Metaxas. "But the lads have overcome setbacks and deserve to have two big games in a week."

Match stats:

Bayer 04 U19: Prinz - Nesseler, Rhein, Harenbrock, Handwerker, Yalcin, Shala (Grym 88’), Bednarczyk, Abu Hanna, Akkaynak, Schreck (Osawe 79’).

Arminia Bielefeld U19: Gaye - Ilg, Cingöz, Weigelt, Ucar (46. Yildiz), Siya (Dieckmann 63’), Nori (Monteir-Mendes 68’), Kaynak, Özcan, Sewing (Fraedrich 68’), Flock.

Goals: 1-0 Abu Hanna (26’), 1-1 Flock (46’), 2-1 Handwerker (68’ pen.), 2-2 Flock (73’), 3-2 Bednarczyk (91’).

Booked: Akkaynak - Ucar, Sewing, Weigelt.

Referee: Rauschenberg (Nessetal).

Attendance: 151.