The Würzburger Kickers have the better cards in the battle for promotion to the third division. With a 1-0 (1-0) win in the first leg at north-east champions 1. FC Lok Leipzig, the Bavarians secured a good starting position ahead of the second leg in Würzburg on Monday (6.30pm/MagentaSport). In front of 10,787 spectators at the Bruno Plache Stadium, Liam Omore (50th minute) scored the decisive goal for the club from Lower Franconia.
The legitimate successor to the first German soccer champions VfB Leipzig (1903) is making its third attempt at the third division amid the "2025 promotion reform - champions must be promoted". In 2020, the team lost to SC Verl; last year, Lok failed against TSV Havelse.
The Kickers went into the game with plenty of momentum thanks to their prestigious win in the Bavarian state cup against 1860 Munich. Coach Michael Schiele's team were livelier, more aggressive and had the first big chance of the game through Jermain Nischalke (23') when he ran free at Lok goalkeeper Andreas Naumann. Tarsis Bonga then headed the ball onto the bottom edge of the crossbar seconds later. Lok woke up briefly and had their first shot through Eren Öztürk (27). But guest keeper Johann Hipper made a save.