Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1. FC Kaiserslautern drew in the 2nd Bundesliga. The equalizer came in the final phase.
In front of around 40,000 spectators in the arena, Luca Sirch (55th) gave the guests the lead at 1-1, Sima Suso (84th) equalized for the home team.
Due to the draw, the “Red Devils” missed the jump to fourth place in the table when they reunited with their ex-coach Markus beginning. They are now sixth with 20 points. Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team has been unbeaten in five games in the league and DFB Cup.
Fortuna Düsseldorf, on the other hand, is still waiting for its first win under its new coach. After three defeats in the league and cup since he took office, the points were now counted for the first time. The Fortuna fans are still waiting for their first home win this season. Düsseldorf is in 13th place in the table with eleven points.
“It was a draw game and at the end of the day it was definitely a deserved point that we got”said Düsseldorf’s coach Markus beginning at the Sportschau microphone: “We turned the game around and therefore have a good feeling.”
His colleague from Kaiserslautern saw it differently. “Overall it was a top away game for us, we were clearly the dominant team”said Lieberknecht: “Then we get a Sunday shot from the opponent and that’s why we’re very disappointed.”
Burkhard Hupe, Sportschau, November 2nd, 2025 4:23 p.m
Poor first half
In the rather poor first half, the fans only saw a few half-chances. This was because Fortuna initially wanted to avoid conceding a goal, but Lautern, for its part, relied on quick transitions and counterattacks. The game, which was characterized by tactics, was balanced and took place primarily between the two penalty areas. Fortuna had their best chance shortly before the half-time whistle when Anouar El Azzouzi fired a volley shot from 16 meters just over the Palatinate goal.
Sirch circles the free kick into the goal
After the break, Lautern also had their first good chance. After a cross from Paul Joly, Fortuna’s goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier was just able to direct Ivan Prtajin’s header over the crossbar.
Lautern was much more agile at the start of the second half. The goal came logically – albeit from a standard. Sirch curled a free kick from 20 meters from a half-right position past the Düsseldorf wall and past Kastenmeier into the goal. And a little later, Fortuna was lucky because the ball hit the net again after a free kick. But Prtajin was offside.
El Azzouzi misses the chance to equalize, Suso scores
Fortuna had to do more for the game, but initially couldn’t get going. This was also because the Palatinate team continued to accelerate with the lead behind them. In the 74th minute, El Azzouzi still had the chance to equalize, but his headbutt to Lautern’s goalkeeper Simon Simoni failed after a free kick from the left side by Florent Muslija. It was the best chance for the home team up to that point.
And then the equalizer came. After an unfortunate attempt at clearance by Mika Haas, the ball came to 20-year-old Suso on the right side of the penalty area, who circled it impressively into the left corner of the cross from 13 meters with his left inner instep. In the end the 1:1 was fair enough. “The first professional goal is always something special, especially in your own stadium. But unfortunately no three points, there is a bit of disappointment”said the scorer.
Sports show, November 2nd, 2025 4:45 p.m
Düsseldorf in Kiel, Kaiserslautern against Hertha
Düsseldorf will be visiting Holstein Kiel on the next match day on Sunday afternoon (1:30 p.m.). Kaiserslautern welcomes Hertha BSC on Saturday evening (8:30 p.m.).