NUREMBERG – After enduring seven grueling matches without victory, 1. FC Nürnberg finally found their way back to winning with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday.
The match, held at the Max-Morlock-Stadium, served as both teams' concluding game of the first half of the season. Around 30,676 spectators watched as Nürnberg’s rise from the depths of the league table was orchestrated by the team’s young star, Stefanos Tzimas, whose goal came just minutes after the half-time break.
It had been over two months since Nürnberg tasted victory – their last win had been a spectacular 8-3 against Jahn Regensburg at the end of October. Since then, the club had seen its position slide down to 13th place, with many fans beginning to fret about relegation.
“I was really happy it didn’t happen the other way around,” head coach Miroslav Klose said, alluding to the tense moments late in the match where Braunschweig threatened to equalize. “We have to keep our heads up and continue to work hard.”
The breakthrough came unexpectedly when Julian Justvan executed a quick free-kick from approximately 25 meters out, cleverly lifting the ball over the opposition’s wall and finding Tzimas. The young forward made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball past the Braunschweig goalkeeper, Marko Johansson, at the near post to celebrate his eighth goal of the season.
“It felt good to finally be on the scoresheet again, especially after such a long wait,” Tzimas said, reflecting on the pressure he and his teammates had been under. “This win gives us the momentum we need heading forward.”
Despite being the supposed weaker side, Braunschweig fought valiantly. They did, after all, create their share of chances, but they failed to capitalize, with only one win to their name over the previous nine matches.
The final outcome became even tougher to achieve for Braunschweig after the dismissal of Christian Conteh, who received two yellow cards within fourteen minutes – the first for a foul on Justvan and the second for dragging down Jeltsch.
With thirty minutes left to play, Braunschweig was forced to battle on with only ten players, yet they still pushed for an equalizer, albeit unsuccessfully. “We had to fight hard, and I am proud of the team,” Klose said. “But we must be more clinical. We had several chances to extend our lead.”
Nürnberg had previously squandered opportunities, with Tzimas himself missing two potential goals before finally scoring. Other players such as Ondrej Karafiat and Justvan, as well as Tzimas were frequently denied by Johansson, who was superb between the sticks.
Reflecting on the performance, Klose stated, “It was great to see the guys pull together and show resilience.” Nürnberg now sits with 22 points and has distanced itself from the relegation zone by eight points. Their remaining matches this season could now determine whether the team aims for higher honors or must continue to avoid the threat of relegation.
“It has been a rollercoaster first half of the season, but we learned so much,” Klose added. “I am excited about the future and how we can continue to improve as a team.”
The next challenge for Nürnberg will be the return to action against Karlsruher SC on January 19, which they will approach with newfound confidence after this important victory.
Meanwhile, Braunschweig will have to regroup during the winter break as they are currently sitting just above the relegation zone, only three points from safety. Coach Daniel Scherning will be tasked with reinvigorated tactics to prevent the sinking feeling of relegation from setting in deep.
This victory marks not just the end of Nürnberg’s losing mindset but also serves as the first step toward revitalizing their season. With player development at the forefront, Klose's leadership choices may very well be the key to Nürnberg's turn around.
