Braunschweig turns cellar duel against 1. FC Kaiserslautern

In the 2nd Bundesliga, Eintracht Braunschweig rewarded itself for a self-confident performance against a largely helpless 1. FC Kaiserslautern and turned the basement duel around. Bitter for Lautern: The supposed late equalizer was denied after VAR intervention.

On Sunday (December 17th, 2023), the hosts from Lower Saxony won 2-1 (1-1) against Kaiserslautern. The game got off to a very bad start for Braunschweig, with Robin Krauße hitting his own net early on (14th minute). Because the FCK didn’t find any offensive solutions afterwards, Rayan Philippe, Braunschweig’s player of the day, equalized (36th) and later set up the winning goal for Johan Gomez (62nd).

Braunschweig is celebrating a very important victory and has now accumulated 14 points. However, Eintracht is still in second-to-last place in the table. For Kaiserslautern it is now the sixth league defeat in a row. The Palatinate team is in 15th place with 18 points.

Scherning’s thanks to the Braunschweig fans, Boyd’s frustration

“There was a lot of energy on the pitch today, but also a lot of energy from outside“, BTSV coach Daniel Scherning thanked the Sportschau for the support of the home fans.”It was a top performance from us for almost the entire game, we fully deserved to win.“

Lautern striker Terrence Boyd spoke afterwards at the Sportschau microphone of a very big disappointment: “Because we got into the game well and somehow gave up control after the equalizer. In general, we lost these important duels and weren’t as ripped off as the Braunschweig team.” He is still convinced of the Lauterer path and the quality of the team, “Because there is more in us”.

Puchacz free kick gives Lautern the lead

It wasn’t a fast start to the game. The initial phase was balanced, Braunschweig seemed a little more determined here and there. But as a result, Kaiserslautern increasingly gained possession of the ball – and suddenly also took the lead. Because Braunschweig’s Krauße deflected a free kick cross from Tymoteusz Puchacz into his own net.

Although the “Red Devils” continued to set the pace playfully, Lautern didn’t come up with much in the attacking third. In fact, the Palatinate team’s last goal of their own was in the 11th minute of the first half – a deflected shot from Boyd.

Braunschweig successfully builds on counterattacks

The hosts, who limited themselves exclusively to quick counter-attacks, therefore had more notable offensive scenes and made more serious shot attempts (4:2 shots on goal in the first half).

Philippe, who was new to the starting line-up, narrowly missed the equalizer after a counterattack shortly after Braunschweig went behind. FCK goalkeeper Julian Krahl made a strong save (20th). But then the Frenchman used his second counterattack to equalize, and Philippe won the next one-on-one with Krahl.

FCK defense against Gomez was far too passive

After the restart, Eintracht changed their own approach. Braunschweig finally took control of the game and put a lot of pressure on the Lauterers, who were pushed onto the defensive.

After further promising offensive scenes, it was logical that Gomez, who had a private duel with FCK goalkeeper Krahl in the second half, turned the game around for Braunschweig. After he had already missed Krahl with a side kick (48′) and wasted a double chance from close range (60′), he sank the ball into the goal to give Eintracht the lead.

Lautern is having a hard time, Eintracht is more dangerous

The new FCK coach Dimitrios Grammozis then reacted to his team’s passivity and brought in Ragnar Ache and Julian Niehues (64th) and a little later Kenny Redondo and Philipp Klement (70th).

But the new ones didn’t really bring a breath of fresh air. Lautern found it extremely difficult to set an offensive tone against the more active Braunschweigers. In the person of Philippe, who put his header just wide of the goal from Marvin Rittmüller’s cross (77th), they almost put a lid on it.

Ache’s goal in stoppage time is disallowed

However, Hasan Kurucay also made a last-ditch save against Richmond Tachie (79′), and Lautern’s Nikola Soldo also missed a good opportunity (90′). Particularly bitter for the FCK: Ache’s supposed equalizer in stoppage time was disallowed due to an offside position after VAR intervention (90th + 4). But in the end the Eintracht victory was well deserved.

Braunschweig after a break in Kiel, Lautern on St. Pauli

After the winter break, Eintracht Braunschweig continues with an away trip to Holstein Kiel (Friday, January 19, 2024, 6:30 p.m.). And 1. FC Kaiserslautern will compete in the Kiez in St. Pauli (Saturday, January 20, 2024, 1 p.m.).