1. FC Kaiserslautern took a big step towards staying in the league with a confident victory in the basement duel of the 2nd Bundesliga against 1. FC Magdeburg. Coach Friedhelm Funkel’s team won 4-1 (2-0) on Saturday evening and improved to 14th place in the table with 36 points. Two game days before the end of the season, the cushion over the first direct relegation zone is now five points. The guests remain in eleventh place with 37 points and also have to worry about staying in the league.
In front of 46,556 spectators in the Fritz Walter Stadium, Daniel Hanslik scored the goals for the cup finalists in the 15th and 20th minutes, as did Kenny Prince Redondo (57th) and Jan Elvedi (83rd). Daniel Heber’s goal (79th) wasn’t enough for Magdeburg.
The hosts took the game to their side early on thanks to Hanslik’s brace. Tymoteusz Puchacz prepared both times. Magdeburg tried hard after conceding the two goals, but was hardly able to create any significant chances to score. After the break, Redondo made it 3-0 with a well-placed low shot. The guests had some hope after Heber’s header, but it was only short-lived. With his goal, Elvedi removed the last doubts about the Palatinate team’s deserved victory. For the cup finalist, 14th place is the best placement since the end of January.
Fourth defeat in a row for Rostock
The relegation battle in the 2nd Bundesliga is also getting worse for other clubs: Braunschweig is one point behind after a turbulent game. When Eintracht captain Robin Krauße (45th + 4) flew off the field after a serious foul on Fürth’s captain Branimir Hrgota, the Lions were still leading 2-1. Thorir Helgason (12th) and Rayan Philippe (15th) scored. But Tim Lemperle (33rd), Robert Wagner (67th) and Armindo Sieb (75th) turned the tide with his twelfth goal of the season.
But Braunschweig didn’t give up and at least got a point through Philippe (79′). Goalkeeper Ron-Thorben Hoffmann held on to this when he parried Lemperle’s penalty kick caused by Ermin Bicakcic (88th). If SV Wehen Wiesbaden wins against Holstein Kiel on Sunday, Braunschweig will still slip to 16th place.
Table 17. from Rostock suffered their fourth defeat in a row. After Nico Neidhart (33′) took the lead at half-time, KSC countered with a double strike from Budu Zivzivadze (52′) and Marvin Wanitzek (56′, penalty kick). Dennis Dressel almost had a direct answer for Hansa, but his long-range shot hit the post (59′).
