Kiel defeats Kaiserslautern at the Betzenberg
Holstein Kiel are doing well in the 2nd division and are also scoring points at the dreaded Betzenberg. Kiel could benefit from the Hamburg city duel at the top next week. Karlsruher SC, meanwhile, landed an important blow in the basement of the table
1. FC Kaiserslautern - Holstein Kiel 0:3 (0:2)
Holstein Kiel remain hot on the heels of Hamburg's leading duo in the 2nd Bundesliga. Thanks to a mature performance and merciless effectiveness, coach Marcel Rapp's team won 3:0 (2:0) at 1. FC Kaiserslautern and successfully defended their relegation place in the race for the top spots. Benedikt Pichler (16/58) and Fiete Arp (44) scored at Betzenberg to secure victory for the Storks, who remain just behind FC St. Pauli (30) and Hamburger SV (27) on 26 points. FCK, on the other hand, slipped deeper into the lower midfield of the table and have not won in five league games.
The visitors got off to a perfect start to the game. Pichler profited from a fatal misplaced pass from Lautern's Philipp Klement and kept his cool to finish. Kiel were the better team against disappointing hosts - and struck coldly. Arp increased the lead after a corner. The FCK professionals used the break to gather themselves and came out of the dressing room much more active. However, Kiel quickly calmed the game down again in front of 38,367 fans and added another after a solo run by Pichler.
Karlsruher SC - 1. FC Nürnberg 4:1 (1:0)
Thanks to an absolute lightning start, Karlsruher SC landed an important liberating blow. After three games without a win in a row, the team of coach Christian Eichner deservedly won 4:1 (1:0) against the disappointing 1. FC Nürnberg. FCN missed out on a place in the top flight as a result of the defeat. Paul Nebel put KSC ahead with one of the fastest goals in second division history (1st). The striker, who benefited from a slip-up by club defender Jannes Horn, took just twelve seconds to score. Nuremberg's top talent Can Uzun equalized in the second half (60'), which Fabian Schleusener countered with a header (70'). Budu Zivzivadze completed the scoring with a brace (89./90.+4).
Karlsruhe dominated the first half across the board in front of 25,966 spectators against an in-form Nuremberg side, but missed numerous other great chances. Former international Lars Stindl failed twice in promising positions after a mistake by keeper Christian Mathenia, while Igor Matanovic hit the post from an acute angle. Uzun turned the game on its head in the second half. Immediately after former club striker Schleusener had hit the crossbar at the other end, he scored his seventh goal of the season after a counter-attack. However, Schleusener, Nuremberg's relegation hero from 2020, scored a little later after a strong cross from Nebel. Georgian international Zivzivadze finished off a counter-attack to make it 3:1, scoring again from an acute angle after a pass from Stindl.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth - SV Wehen Wiesbaden 2:0 (1:0)
Promoted SV Wehen Wiesbaden suffered a defeat after four wins in a row. On matchday 14, the Hessians lost 0:2 (0:1) at SpVgg Greuther Fürth, who had previously been level on points, thus extending their own winning streak to four successive victories. Armindo Sieb (20') and Branimir Hrgota (84') scored for the hosts, who, unlike the Wiesbadeners, maintained their position at the top of the table with the win. Only three points separate coach Alexander Zorniger's team from second-placed Hamburger SV.
Fürth had taken control of the game from the outset against a deep-lying visitors - the lead through Sieb was well deserved. However, Wiesbaden then grew in confidence and created some good chances, which they failed to capitalize on. This was also the case after just a few seconds of the second half: Robin Heußer (46) had a free shot but failed to beat Jonas Urbig in the Fürth goal. As the home side regained control of the game after that, the match calmed down. Fürth's pressing in particular had an effect, resulting in the late 2:0.
- In the Bundesliga 2, 1.FC Kaiserslautern faces a tough challenge against Holstein Kiel and former club rival SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
- Despite facing strong opposition from SpVgg Greuther Fürth and 1.FC Nürnberg, Karlsruher SC secured important victories, keeping their hopes of promotion alive.
- Holstein Kiel's impressive performance in Bundesliga 2 has earned them significant points, including a notable 3-0 win over Kaiserslautern at the Betzenberg.
Source: www.ntv.de
