Like – One day after FC St. Pauli’s victory, Holstein Kiel missed the return to the top of the table in the 2nd Bundesliga. After six previous games without conceding a goal, coach Marcel Rapp’s team conceded several goals in a 1:3 (1:2) draw against relegation candidate 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
In the evening game, third place Fortuna Düsseldorf could reduce the gap to Kiel to three points. Kaiserslautern ended its run of five league games without a win and temporarily climbed out of the relegation zone to 15th place.
Daniel Hanslik (13th minute), Filip Kaloc (45th + 4th) and Marlon Ritter (83rd) made the DFB Cup finalists celebrate. In between, Alexander Bernhardsson (25th) equalized.
Ritter makes the decision
In a balanced first half characterized by duels, FCK shocked the promotion favorites from the north. The former Kiel player Hanslik destroyed Kiel’s long series without conceding a goal with his header. After a defensive positioning error, the Swede Bernhardsson confidently equalized in front of the FCK goal. But shortly before half-time the guests took the lead again thanks to Kaloc’s goal.
The second half remained hectic: both teams worked intensively. The Kiel team had better opportunities, but guest goalkeeper Julian Krahl presented himself as a reliable support. Despite the pressure, the FCK always provided relief. The substitute Ritter put the final point.