second Bundesliga

His career at Fortuna Düsseldorf is just crazy…

With his last-minute 2:2, Jona Niemiec caused one of the biggest moments of celebration in the arena in recent years, two days after his 23rd birthday. His first derby against 1. FC Köln will remain unforgettable for him – but this game is now in a long series.

The Fortuna madman strikes again!

When the extra time against the highly superior Cologne team was almost over, Düsseldorf and Niemiec still wanted to equalize – but he certainly didn’t want the ball to fly in like that. Captain Andre Hoffmann (31) made it clear straight away: “Please don’t explain anywhere that this was intentional!” Niemiec didn’t even try after his cross slipped into the far corner: “I’m not even saying that, I just wanted to get the ball to Vermeij or Kownacki somehow – the fact that it falls back like that is of course crazy.”

Goal cracker in 95th minuteThe derby madness in video!

Source: Image21.09.2024

The fact that this is exactly what happened to Niemiec fits perfectly with his time in Düsseldorf. Three years ago, the offensive player came from TSG Sprockhövel from the association league to Fortuna’s U23 – even then he was one of the few players who had never been in the youth performance center. On February 8, 2023, Niemiec made his professional debut in the cup in Nuremberg, completely unexpectedly, because Düsseldorf had no more personnel. Daniel Thioune (50) brought him on in extra time, where he first got a red card and then wanted to become the hero in the penalty shootout – Niemiec missed, but won a lot of Fortuna love.

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And shortly afterwards, his first professional contract. The Cinderella story is complete – but it’s far from over. Last season, Niemiec caused Fortuna to ecstasy with his double substitute pack in the cup in Magdeburg, making the crazy journey to the semi-finals in this competition possible. In the race for promotion, however, the striker was once again a tragic hero: in the relegation second leg against Bochum, Niemiec had a huge chance to score the goal that would secure promotion shortly before the end of extra time, but the ball was cleared on the line.

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Previously, one of the fastest players in the second division had openly stated in the winter that his goal was to later play in the Champions League and for the national team (he could play for Germany and Poland). But because he didn’t score, everyday life in the second division continued. And Niemiec sweetened it with his next amazing moment in the derby. “These are pure emotions. The best moment for me in this stadium.”

If he continues like this, there will be more of these moments to come…

He has had to wait so long for this moment…

At Hertha BSC (2-0), Dawid Kownacki (27) scored for the first time since his return to Fortuna Düsseldorf – and for the first time ever in a competitive match since his farewell match against Kaiserslautern (3-0) on the last matchday of the season before last. And that will surely have only been the beginning.

Bet that Kownacki will start shooting now…?!

His first goal after 476 days really touched the heart of the Pole, he celebrated with the fans and his colleagues, but also needed a few moments for himself. Kownacki: “The first goal after my return was very emotional for me, this moment will stay in my mind for a long time. I didn’t score for over a year – I didn’t have many chances in Bremen.” After his free transfer, the Düsseldorf striker had only played 364 minutes in 22 matches – now his goal redemption.

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What’s striking is that since Kownacki has been there, Fortuna has finally had some really good moments in attack. In Ulm (2:1) he missed two mega opportunities, against Hannover (1:0) he hit the crossbar, now in Berlin there was the first celebration – and there are many more to come. Kownacki: “Here at Fortuna I have more confidence. In the first few games I had chances, but I didn’t take them. I stayed calm – that’s important for a striker.”

But it is particularly important for him that he has a coach in Düsseldorf who is 100 percent behind him. Daniel Thioune (50) had already vetoed the transfer two years ago, ensuring that Kownacki played a mega season (14 goals and 9 assists) at Fortuna before leaving Werder. Now the coach absolutely wanted his favorite back, and Klaus Allofs (67) and Christian Weber (41) granted his wish.

Karate templateControversial Hertha goal

Source: Image15.09.2024

Kownacki (loaned for a year with an option to buy for around €2.5 million) had already paid back in Ulm and Hanover, and now in Berlin he has also scored a goal and scored an assist – and he has also fought hard. During the week the Pole had described himself as a “defensive striker” and he proved this at Hertha BSC. And now that he has broken his goal-scoring itch, he is even more of a goal-scoring hope for the league leaders.

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And everything indicates that his karate goal in Berlin was just the beginning…