Havelse back in 3. Liga after dramatic playoff win

TSV Havelse became the fourth and last promoted team from the Regionalliga to 3. Liga.

TSV Havelse will play in 3. Liga once again after winning promotion via a playoff. After finishing top of the Regionalliga Nord standings, Havelse had to overcome Regionalliga Nordost champions Lokomotive Leipzig in the two-legged tie.

The first game ended 1-1 in Leipzig before the two teams went at it today at Wilhelm-Langrehr-Stadion. The game saw four red cards, including one for Havelse’s Lorenzo Paldino as he celebrated his goal by taking his shirt off while on a yellow card.

Luckily for Havelse, that was a strike that put them 3-0 up in the extra-time. The teams finished regular time goalless, but Tobias Dombrowa’s sending off ten minutes from time was decisive in turning the tie to the hosts’ favor.

Skipper Julius Düker and top-scorer Marko Ilic scored the first two goals for Havelse. The three goal scorers played a big part in the promotion to 3. Liga with 46 goals in total. Lokomotive Leipzig finished the game with eight players.

Havelse last played third-tier football in the 2021-22 season. MSV Duisburg, TSG Hoffenheim II and 1. FC Schweinfurt have already booked their place in next season’s 3. Liga. Borussia Dortmund II, Hannover 96 II, SV Sandhausen and SpVgg Unterhaching are relegated to the multi-tiered Regionalliga.