1. FC Kaiserslautern will also keep in touch with the promotion places in the second Bundesliga in the new year. On Saturday (January 28th, 2023) the Palatinate team won 3-1 (0-1) at Hannover 96 and claimed fourth place.
Julian Niehues (49′), Terrence Boyd (66′) and Philipp Hercher (90’+7′) turned the game around in Hanover after Derrick Köhn had given the hosts the lead in the first half (17′). FCK is fourth in the table with 32 points. Hannover is now seventh with 28 points.
Even without their suspended trainer Stefan Leitl on the bench, the Hanoverians got off to a better start, seemed more grippy and offensively more purposeful. However, guest goalkeeper Andreas Luthe helped lead the 96ers. Köhn came through with a solo over the left half, the shot caught Luthe on the wrong foot in the short corner and the goalkeeper deflected the ball as it fell into the goal.
Boyd for Kaiserslautern on the spot
Kaiserslautern needed some time to recover from that. Until the break, the guests hardly ever appeared in front of the opposing goal. But at the beginning of the second half, the “Red Devils” became much more active. After a corner kick, Niehues quickly equalized with a header (49′), even though the Hanoverians complained about a foul.
So FCK was back in the game – and followed up. After a nice pass from Hendrick Zuck, Lautern’s attacker Terrence Boyd escaped and scored the ball with a volley from just under ten meters to make it 2-1 (66′). Hannover reared up and the game went back and forth intensely.
Hanover fought to equalize. Substitute Hendrik Weydandt narrowly missed a shot from 18 meters (80′). A little later, Maximilian Beier, who was also a substitute, just missed a cross from the outside (87′). Finally, Luthe saved against Weydant with a strong save in added time (90+5), before substitute Hercher finally secured Lauterer’s fifth win in six unbeaten games after a counterattack.
Kaiserslautern against Kiel, Hanover near St. Pauli
On Matchday 19, 1. FC Kaiserslautern welcomes KSV Holstein Kiel (Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at 1 p.m.). One day later Hannover is challenged away against St. Pauli (1.30 p.m.).