An early headed goal from Arne Feick looked to be enough for 1. FC Heidenheim to secure all three points against Karlsruher SC, only for Enrico Valentini to score a magnificent free-kick in the final minute.
Heidenheim's form had fallen off in recent weeks and they were aiming to get back on track, with Frank Schmidt making to changes after defeat to St. Pauli. Tim Göhlert replaced the suspended Mathias Wittek, while Ben Halloran came in for Norman Theuerkauf to add a little more creativity to the middle of midfield. For Karlsruhe, Markus Kauczinski was also keen to return to last season's excellent play and he opted to field an unchanged side after a 0-0 draw with Fortuna Düsseldorf during the week.
Heidenheim hold on to early lead
The hosts began much more strongly and were rewarded for their pressure with an early goal. After Ben Halloran's cross was deflected behind for a corner, Marc Schnatterer put in a pin-point delivery into the six-yard area. Arne Feick was there to head home, unmarked, into the far corner with the Karlsruhe defence bemused as to how he had wriggled free.
Kauczinski's side responded immediately and were mere inches away from being level. Enrico Valentini burst clear down the right and whipped in a great ball across the face of goal. Erwin Hoffer did his best to connect with the cross but couldn't quite get there in time, as it flashed past the Heidenheim defence.
The entertaining opening then began to descend into a midfield battle, perhaps more appealing to the football purist that either set of fans. The two central midfielders on each side were getting through a massive amount of work and seemed to constantly sweeping up mistakes made by the opposition. It was Sebastian Griesbeck who broke the boredom with a great through ball to Daniel Frahn, though Dirk Orlishausen saved well.
The cards came out late on in the half as Peter Sippel cautioned both Manuel Gulde and Dimitrij Nazarov. It had been 45 minutes that Kauczinski would have not been very impressed with, only heaping more pressure on the team to turn their fortunes around. Heidenheim, however, were good value for their lead.
Valentini equalises in the final seconds
Early exchanges in the second half didn't represent any real change in Karlsruhe's style of play, or reflect their need to get back in to the game. It was the home team who looked more like adding to the game's goal tally, constantly trying to play Frahn and Smail Morabit through on goal.
In what seemed like an even more strange decision for the visitors, Kauczinski opted to substitute their only real goal-getter this season. Manuel Torres replaced Hoffer, with Nazarov moving into a more attacking role. Julius Reinhardt was brought on at the same time in order to solidify the Heidenheim midfield.
The best opportunity of the half fell as the game was beginning to enter the final stages. Frahn struck a ball into Robert Leipertz's feet, which he controlled expertly. Leipertz then shifted onto his left foot and sent a magnificent curling effort just wide of the top corner with Orlishausen beaten.
Heidenheim were just one minute away from victory when Karlsruhe broke their hearts with the last kick off the game. 25 yards out, Valentini curled his effort into the top corner and Jan Zimmermann just couldn't keep it out. The away fans, players and coaches all burst into celebration, after what turned out to be the final kick of the match.