Heidenheim claim late win in Stuttgart in fight against relegation

Substitute Mathias Honsak scored almost at the death as relegation-threatened Heidenheim claimed a 1-0 Bundesliga victory at ailing VfB Stuttgart on Friday.

Honsak curled into the top left corner in the 89th, 10 minutes after coming on.

Heidenheim consolidated third last place which earns a relegation play-off tie, now five points ahead of second bottom Bochum.

Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Müller saved well from Ermedin Demirovic and Fabian Rieder's free-kick before Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade hit the crossbar in the 81st. Heidenheim had earlier hit the post from Patrick Mainka's deflected header.

"We were a little lucky but everyone fought. We didn't have many chances. The goal was the reward for the game we played. There are three games left and we must follow up," Müller told streaming poirtal DAZN.

Last season's runners-up Stuttgart suffered a club record extending sixth straight home defeat and in 11th with just one victory from 10 games are six points away from a place in Europe via the league.

They will however qualify for the Europa League if they win the German Cup final against third division Arminia Bielefeld on May 24.

"It is difficult to find words. If we had scored the result would have been different but it didn't happen again. It hurts. We are not good enough at the moment," Woltemade said.

The other eight games are Saturday and Sunday. Leaders Bayern Munich have a first chance to clinch the title which will happen on Saturday if they beat Mainz and title holders Bayer Leverkusen fail to win against Augsburg.