Sports Second League
Drama in Fürth – Kaiserslautern loses with the last action of the game
As of: 9:07 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Kaiserslautern missed a point in the relegation battle in a dramatic final phase. After taking the lead at halftime, the Palatinate lost in stoppage time and suffered a seriously injured player. Hertha BSC defeated Rostock in front of an atmospheric backdrop.
With a last-minute win, SpVgg Greuther Fürth dealt DFB Cup finalists 1. FC Kaiserslautern a severe blow in the relegation battle of the 2nd Bundesliga. The Fürth team ended their winless streak of the past few weeks on Friday evening with midfielder Robert Wagner’s second goal in stoppage time to make it 2-1 (0-1).
“This defeat is very bitter. We wanted to take a point, but we didn’t manage to do that. The equalizer was very lucky for Fürth, and then having to accept the 1:2 at the very last second is extremely bitter,” said coach Friedhelm Funkel.
Before the break, the Lauterers were the better team and led by Marlon Ritter in front of over 15,000 spectators in the Ronhof sports park thanks to ex-Fürth player Ragnar Ache’s 16th goal of the season in the 18th minute. The Fürth team appeared transformed offensively in the second half and initially equalized to 1-1 through Wagner (62′).
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With 29 points, the Lauterers remained second to last at the start of the 29th matchday and are therefore still in a direct relegation zone. Fürth, on the other hand, broke the 40-point mark. What was also bitter for the guests was that Julian Niehues was seriously injured in a duel shortly before the break. He had to leave the pitch with a bandaged knee.
Louder worries: Right before the break, Niehues and then the game were lost
Source: dpa/Daniel Karmann
FCK was lucky with Ache’s goal because there shouldn’t have been a corner before it. After the break, it was goalkeeper Robin Himmelmann who saved the cup finalists from defeat for a long time. He held up well several times against Tim Lemperle, Branimir Hrgota and Dennis Srbeny. A slipped cross from the strong attacker Lemperle, who came on as a substitute at the break, hit the crossbar before Wagner’s winning goal (87th).
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“We have to keep going and believe in getting the points. We absolutely want to win the home games we have now. But then we have to score more than one goal,” Funkel looked ahead: “I’m very depressed myself after this game. I have to admit that. But we will rebuild the team from Monday.”
Hertha BSC wins in front of 62,000 spectators
Hansa Rostock had no chance in the explosive second division duel with Hertha BSC and suffered a setback in the second division’s relegation battle. Coach Mersad Selimbegovic’s team, which was supported by 20,000 traveling supporters, lost 0:4 (0:2) in the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Friday evening. In front of a total of 62,177 football fans, Palko Dardai (18th and 59th minutes), Fabian Reese scored with a hand penalty (31st) and Haris Tabakovic (86th). Hansa can be back in the relegation zone after the matchday if Braunschweig scores against Hannover on Sunday.
Because of the hostile relationship and the history between the two fan camps, the game was classified as a high-security game. According to a police spokesman, the situation in front of the stadium remained mostly calm. But even before kick-off, the Rostock team set off smoke bombs and firecrackers. Thick clouds of smoke delayed kick-off by several minutes.
As the game began, the home team took control. Hertha played patiently and purposefully and repeatedly came up with dangerous shots. After a nice lateral shift, Dardai headed in. When Rostock’s Simon Rhein touched the ball with his hand after a shot from Jonjoe Kenny, Reese increased the score with a penalty.
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The guests had little access to the game. Konstantinos Stafylidis’ attempt from a corner was no problem for Hertha keeper Tjark Ernst. After the break, as so often this season, the Berliners briefly became a little more passive. But after a strong counterattack solo run by Marten Winkler over around 70 meters, Dardai eliminated any doubts. Goal scorer Tabakovic made the final score after another counterattack.
