Germany forward Deniz Undav scored in added time to secure a 3-3 draw for third-place Stuttgart against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday, extending the team’s unbeaten streak to seven games in a thrilling finish.
An own-goal from Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and two quick goals from Tim Kleindienst had given Heidenheim a late 3-2 lead after Stuttgart had initially led 2-0 comfortably.
Maximilian Mittelstädt played a long ball forward for Undav, who managed to turn past two defenders and score, securing the equalizer for Stuttgart.
Undav, with 15 Bundesliga goals this season, recently made his debut for Germany against France. Despite the draw, neither Stuttgart nor Heidenheim were entirely satisfied.
“We’re not pleased because we completely dominated the game after equalizing, showed belief, turned the game around with incredible determination, and then conceded the equalizer in added time,” said Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt.
Heidenheim felt disappointed but acknowledged the importance of earning a point against the third-placed team, potentially bound for the Champions League next season.
The match saw Serhou Guirassy’s goal disallowed for offside, but he later scored to take his tally to 23 goals in 21 league appearances. Angelo Stiller and Undav combined to extend Stuttgart’s lead before Heidenheim mounted a comeback.
Kleindienst scored twice to put Heidenheim ahead, but Nikola Dovedan’s red card reduced them to ten men. Undav’s late goal salvaged a point for Stuttgart in their Champions League qualification bid, maintaining their seven-point lead over fifth-place Leipzig with seven games left.
The match marked the 1,000th Bundesliga game at Stuttgart’s stadium, formerly known as the Neckarstadion, with the Stuttgarter Kickers featuring in 36 of those games in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
