1. FC Kaiserslautern - SpVgg Greuther Fürth 0:2 (0:1)
Schalke storm out of the table basement with late win
Cup shockers 1. FC Kaiserslautern dropped important points in the promotion race against SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the 2nd Bundesliga. On the twelfth matchday, the Red Devils lost 0:2 (0:1) against the cloverleaf. It was FCK's second home defeat of the season. Gideon Jung (22') put the Franconians ahead with a header in front of 40,302 fans, Julian Green (54', penalty) increased the lead to 2:0, following a foul by goalkeeper Julian Krahl on Fürth captain Branimir Hrgota. Lautern's Boris Tomiak was shown the red card after an assault (69'). The Red Devils, who were without a win in the league for the third time in a row, are in eighth place with 18 points. Fürth overtook the Palatinate side.
During the week, the Palatinate side had eliminated Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln (3:2) in the DFB Cup, while the Cloverleaf lost at fourth-division side FC Homburg (1:2). However, the team from Lauter did not appear as lively and strong at Betzenberg as recently.
Armindo Sieb had the first good opportunity for Fürth as early as the second minute. However, he failed to beat goalkeeper Krahl, who reacted well and saved with his feet. Sieb (8') also put a ball onto the outside of the net. The Red Devils struggled to get going and there were many misplaced passes in the build-up play. The visitors' defense rarely posed any problems.
It was only after just over half an hour that FCK's actions became a little more purposeful. Terrence Boyd (38') narrowly missed the Fürth goal. The hosts were also initially in control at the start of the second half, but the penalty and the goal to make it 2-0 came as a cold shower.
1 FC Nuremberg - FC Schalke 04 1:2 (0:1)
Schalke 04 showed another sign of life in the relegation battle. The struggling relegated team won the duel between the former champions at 1. FC Nuremberg 2:1 (1:0) and thus left the relegation zone. It was the second win in the fourth competitive match for new coach Karel Geraerts.
Dominick Drexler gave the Royal Blues the lead (35'). Florian Flick equalized in front of 47,000 spectators in the sold-out Max Morlock Stadium (47'). Danny Latza scored the late winner for S04 (89'). It was a setback for 1. FCN, who had advanced to the cup round of 16 during the week.
Four days after the cup knockout in St. Pauli, Schalke got off to the better start. Lino Tempelmann hit the far post from a free position (10th), shortly afterwards Henning Matriciani failed to beat Christian Mathenia, who reacted strongly. An intense game then developed with the visitors having the advantage. The lead was therefore deserved. The club was even lucky that Kenan Karaman, the man who made it 1-0, only hit the post 76 seconds later. Nuremberg, on the other hand, were unable to make any offensive impact before the break.
FCN coach Cristian Fiel reacted and brought on cup hero Felix Lohkemper and Mats Möller Dähli - two changes that quickly provided new energy: First the equalizer was scored, seconds later Marcin Kaminski saved against Benjamin Goller on the line. FCN remained more dangerous from then on, but it was Schalke who scored in a hectic final phase.
VfL Osnabrück - Holstein Kiel 1:1 (0:0)
Holstein Kiel surprisingly missed out on a direct promotion place. They drew 1-1 (0-0) at penultimate-placed Osnabrück and are now fourth with 20 points. Promoted Osnabrück took the lead through Dave Gnaase (55') and ended their run of two games without scoring. The late equalizer was scored by substitute Benedikt Pichler (90.+4). Tobias Schweinsteiger's team are still waiting for their second home win.
The Kielers were noticeably exhausted by their 3:4 cup defeat on penalties against 1. FC Magdeburg on Wednesday. Before the break, Shuto Machino (8') and Steven Skrzybski (32') created goalscoring opportunities, but were denied by VfL goalkeeper Lennart Grill.
Osnabrück, cheered on by 15,000 spectators, made an effort, with Niklas Wiemann (26) and captain Timo Beermann (49) heading dangerously wide from a corner. Kiel's Shuto Machino (47) missed the empty goal, Gnaase scored shortly afterwards (55). The visitors then took control of the game, but Osnabrück's defense could not hold out until the end.
- Despite struggling in the Bundesliga 2, 1.FC Kaiserslautern faced strong opposition in the 2.FC Schalke 04, who were looking to escape the relegation zone.
- VfL Osnabrück and Holstein Kiel, both competing in Bundesliga 2, fought for points in a tight match, ultimately ending in a 1-1 draw.
- In the same league, 1.FC Nuremberg faced FC Schalke 04, with the latter securing a vital win to move away from the relegation zone.
- Holstein Kiel, who currently sit in fourth place in Bundesliga 2, were looking to secure a direct promotion place with a victory against Osnabrück, but they were unable to do so.
Source: www.ntv.de
