Karlsruher SC remains the team of the moment in the second division. With a deserved 1-0 (1-0) away win in Nuremberg, the KSC also sent the Franconians into the bottom of the table. The Karlsruhe team consolidated their fifth place in the table, while the FCN remained stuck in 13th place and trending downwards.
In front of around 35,000 fans in wonderful football weather, 1. FC Nürnberg had a crystal clear mission: a home win was needed after four defeats from the last five games had once again slipped them dangerously close to the relegation zone.
31st matchday arrow right To the live ticker: Nuremberg – Karlsruhe arrow right
Karlsruhe with a broad chest
So the clubbers began with the determination to play forward. However, they were dealing with an opponent who had come to Nuremberg with a very big chest. The Karlsruhe team had a winning streak under their belt and were able to play with complete freedom, feeling like they were the third-best team in the second half of the season.
The Baden team took advantage of this psychological advantage and appeared to be very playful and offensively oriented at the beginning. They almost took the lead in the 5th minute: playmaker Marvin Wanitzek had a clear shot after a one-two with Igor Matanovic, but aimed a bit too high from a slightly acute angle and nine meters away from the goal.
Wanitzek and Matanovic swirl
The Nuremberg team subsequently had their problems with this offensive duo from KSC. In the 17th minute, a direct shot from Wanitzek from 17 meters hit the crossbar, and after just under half an hour, FCN keeper Carl Klaus made a sensational save against a well-placed low shot from the KSC-10.
Nuremberg seemed to somehow escape into the break, but then it happened: This time Wanitzek acted as a provider when he placed the ball precisely on Matanovic’s left slipper. The KSC center forward’s direct shot hit the left corner unstoppably – 0-1 (37′).
“My boys played almost at their best in the first half. What was missing was the second and third goals,” said KSC coach Christian Eichner after the game on the Sportschau microphone.
KSC deserves to be ahead
The break lead for Karlsruhe was well deserved. The KSC simply presented itself with more determination and more clever tactics. That’s what it looked like in the second half, even though the guests were no longer able to create the clear scoring opportunities they had in the first half.
And in the 73rd minute they were lucky: after an unintentional handball by KSC midfielder Paul Nebel, referee Lukas Benen had already awarded a penalty for Nuremberg. However, following a tip from VAR, the referee reversed the decision based on the images.
A little later, Neben of all people had the chance to decide the entertaining game, but he didn’t hit the goal from 14 meters from a half-left position. So in the end it was a narrow but deserved victory for Karlsruhe.
“One or two people thought too much today. The ball carrier didn’t have any passing stations, they didn’t push us through and gave the opponent too much space. That’s why we end up with a half like this,” said a disappointed club coach Cristian Fiel after the game Game.
Nuremberg in Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe in Rostock
1. FC Nürnberg has to play third-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf next weekend (Friday, May 3, 2024, 6:30 p.m.). Karlsruhe also has an away game again, traveling to Hansa Rostock on the Baltic Sea (Saturday, May 4th, 1:00 p.m.).