After an even opening, Copenhagen began to dominate the first half, as Elias Achouri came close with two efforts. The first produced a brilliant save from Frank Feller from close range, before striking a volley wide at the back post from the resulting corner. '
It was then Amin Chiakha’s turn to look threatening, as he headed Elyounoussi’s measured free-kick beyond the onrushing Feller but also wide of the post. However, the 18-year-old made his mark moments later with a similar chance, heading home his fourth UECL goal in five matches after meeting Kevin Diks’ ball.
The provider then turned goalscorer just eight minutes into the second half, sending Feller the wrong way with a neat penalty into the bottom corner for his fourth in the UECL, after Jonas Föhrenbach slid in on Giorgi Gocholeishvili in the box which after a VAR review, resulted in the spot-kick.
Now behind on aggregate as well as the scoreline on the night, Heidenheim tried to hit back immediately, but captain Patrick Mainka could only skew his half-volley over after the ball fell kindly to him from a free-kick. Zivzivadze will be wondering how he did not make cleaner contact from another free-kick, as he could only connect with his shoulder from close range, allowing Ramaj to parry away from his goal.
Heidenheim kept pushing as substitute Marvin Pieringer rounded Ramaj while through on goal, but Munashe Garananga recovered well to clear off the line. The German side did manage to pull a goal back minutes later through substitute Léo Scienza, who curled a fabulous free-kick into the top corner.
They could have levelled on the night and went ahead on aggregate in normal time, but Mainka headed wide from a corner in such a promising position. Copenhagen could have nicked it themselves too, as Feller saved well from Hjalte Froholdt’s strike, but Scienza had the best chance of them all, as Ramaj tipped his shot onto the post.
Extra-time provided few chances for either side, but Copenhagen made one of them count. After a mix-up in the Heidenheim defence, the ball fell nicely into substitute Rodrigo Huescas’ path, and he lashed past Feller to send the Danes through with just five minutes left on the clock.
In dramatic fashion, Pieringer then thought he rescued Heidenheim with an even later goal, but it was ruled out for a handball. As such, Copenhagen made history by beating a German side for the first time at the 16th attempt, while Heidenheim will rue a sixth defeat in eight matches over all competitions as they exit the UECL.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kevin Diks (Copenhagen)