1. FC Kaiserslautern remains a serious hope for promotion: On the 22nd matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga, the promoted team countered an interim setback impressively. In the duel of the basement children, a surprisingly installed veteran coach can celebrate a dream start.
1. FC Kaiserslautern – SpVgg Greuther Furth 3: 1 (1: 0)
After the last two defeats, 1. FC Kaiserslautern has returned to the road to success in the 2nd Bundesliga with its tenth win of the season. Coach Dirk Schuster’s team won against SpVgg Greuther Fürth 3-1 (1-0). In front of 39,124 spectators in the Fritz Walter Stadium, Terrence Boyd (22nd minute), Philipp Hercher (66th) and Kevin Kraus (69th) scored the goals for the promoted team, who now has 38 points in fifth place. Branimir Hrgota (62nd) scored for the Fürth, who had to play outnumbered for an hour after a yellow-red card for Simon Asta (29th). The Franks remain with 26 points in the lower middle of the table.
Things got off to a good start for the Palatinate. Boyd put FCK, who lost 1-0 at FC St. Pauli and SC Paderborn, ahead with his eleventh goal of the season. After the change, the guests briefly took control of the game despite being outnumbered. First, Marco Meyerhöfer (50th) only hit the post, then Hrgota equalized. The game threatened to tip over completely. But with a double strike Hercher and Kraus after a corner kick ensured the decision in favor of the home side, who remain within striking distance of the promotion places.
1. FC Nuremberg – SV Sandhausen 1:0 (0:0)
Dieter Hecking stopped the crash of 1. FC Nürnberg for the time being when he returned to coaching. However, the flattering 1-0 (0-0) in the weak crisis duel against SV Sandhausen after a late penalty kick did not spark the hoped-for optimistic mood for the fight to stay up. The fouled striker Kwadwo Duah took the penalty himself and made Nuremberg celebrate in the 86th minute.
Until then, the “Club” showed the well-known weaknesses in the game structure and in creating goal chances in front of 26,260 spectators. SV Sandhausen with its new coach Tomas Oral remains bottom of the table. After the shaky game in snow and sleet, Nuremberg improved to twelfth place.
Hecking and his assistant Cristian Fiel had positioned their chairs well in front of the dugout. The red occupied Hecking, the black took the U23 coach Fiel. Oral, on the other hand, was constantly walking along the sidelines. It was an unsightly game between two of the weakest offenses in the league.
Sports director Hecking, now also interim coach after Markus Weinzierl’s release, made three changes to the starting eleven and even switched to a courageous 4-3-3, which didn’t pay off for a long time. Oral’s six changes in the starting lineup proved to be smart moves but didn’t pay off in the end.
Holstein Kiel – SC Paderborn 07 1:1 (0:1)
Holstein Kiel has stopped SC Paderborn’s winning streak. After four successes in a row, the team of coach Lukas Kwasniok played 1: 1 (1: 0) and failed to climb to the relegation place, at least temporarily. In front of 12,469 spectators, Maximilian Rohr gave the guests the lead in the 31st minute. Kiel’s Fabian Reese equalized with a hand penalty in the 66th minute.
The game started with a bit of a shock. Kiel’s Finn Porath was run under by his opponent Marcel Hoffmeier after just a few seconds, landed rudely on his back and had to be treated. The attacker was able to continue the game. The hosts had the better chances in the early stages. Steven Skrzybski failed after a good pass from Reese at the Paderborn keeper Jannik Huth (17th). The guests scored 1-0 with their first opportunity. Rohr escaped his opponent Patrick Erras and headed the ball in from close range.
Holstein was then the more dominant team. However, the North Germans did not create any great goal opportunities. Paderborn wanted to manage the narrow lead, but conceded the equalizer. After a hand ball from Marco Schuster, referee Wolfgang Haslberger awarded a penalty, which Reese converted with a bit of luck.
