Cup semi-finalists 1. FC Kaiserslautern received a bitter blow in the relegation battle of the 2nd Bundesliga against SC Paderborn.
The “Red Devils” lost 1:2 (1:0) against the SCP on Saturday evening (February 10, 2024). Jan Elvedi (3rd minute) gave FCK an early lead, David Kinsombi (65th) equalized with a hand penalty according to video evidence, Visar Musliu (72nd) scored the winning goal for the SCP.
Lautern remains in acute danger of relegation and can even be sent to a direct relegation spot by Hansa Rostock if they win in Osnabrück. With the victory, Paderborn nurtured its faint hopes of promotion.
To the live ticker: Kaiserslautern – Paderborn Arrow right 21st matchday Arrow right
Lautern’s coach Dimitrios Grammozis told Sportschau after the game: “Very annoying because I think we played a great game, especially in the first half, against a very good opponent. I think it’s a shame for the players because they disagree with me “We threw everything in after today. We just didn’t have the transition moments in the second half.”
His Paderborn colleague Lukasz Kwaśniok described the speech at the Sportschau microphone during the break as follows: “We told the boys that it’s about a certain will to win duels. We weren’t good in the first half, and we have that “We just did better in the second half.” It was “somehow lucky, but not entirely undeserved” to win 2-1.
Lautern with a lightning start
The first half was one to forget for Paderborn. With their first chance, the “Red Devils” took the lead in the third minute. Elvedi headed a corner from Tymoteusz Puchacz into the goal from four meters. And the FCK stuck with it. A goal by colleague Ragnar Ache five minutes later was rightly disallowed for offside. Shortly afterwards, Puchacz shot wide from close range after a bad mistake from David Kinsombi.
On the other side, Musliu (13th) missed a good chance to equalize, but he headed past the goal from ten meters. Paderborn had little to play with in the physical game; apart from the aforementioned chance, there was almost nothing going forward in the first half. The game was then briefly interrupted twice because fans once again threw objects onto the pitch in protest against the DFL’s planned investor deal.
Penalty taken back for FCK
Things didn’t get exciting again until the 40th minute. Puchacz appeared to have been brought down with his foot by SCP keeper Pelle Boevink, who was rushing out of the goal, and referee Martin Petersen initially awarded a penalty. However, a review of the video images showed that the action was outside the penalty area, Boevink had played the ball first and was still trying to bend his leg. Consequence: no penalty and no red card against Boevink because of an emergency brake.
Delayed restart due to fan protests
After the first half had passed Paderborn, the question arose as to whether coach Kwaśniok’s team would be able to annoy FCK more in the second half without any personnel changes. First of all, objects had to be collected from the playing field before the game could start, albeit somewhat late.
Paderborn was now much more committed to moving forward and took the reins of action. Lautern relied on counter-pressing and counterattacks. But the SCP was initially unable to create any real chances; the offensive actions lacked precision and ultimate consistency.
Penalty kick for Paderborn according to video evidence
But then Boris Tomiak blocked a shot from Ilyas Ansah in the penalty area with his arm outstretched – after looking at the video images, the referee decided on a penalty this time, which Kinsombi confidently converted, even if FCK goalkeeper Julian Krahl suspected the corner.
Now the cards were reshuffled and the hit inspired the Paderborn team. Six minutes after the equalizer, Musliu followed up and headed a corner taken by Kai Klefisch to give East Westphalia the lead. The Palatinate team was shocked and had to accept criticism for not working more consistently to extend their lead after the 1-0 win.
And so it happened, as it often does in such situations. Psychologically demoralized, Grammozis’ team no longer had the energy on the pitch to come back. In the end there was a bitter defeat, which the FCK fans acknowledged with an angry whistle concert.
Kaiserslautern will now play at 1. FC Nürnberg on Sunday (February 18, 2024, 1:30 p.m.). Paderborn hosted Holstein Kiel the day before at 1 p.m.