Fortuna Dusseldorf beat Eintracht Braunschweig 3-1 at the start of the 22nd matchday in the 2nd Bundesliga and can move up the table again.
With 35 points, Düsseldorf reduced the gap in third place to five points for the time being. With 21 points, Braunschweig remains dangerously close to the relegation zone.
From the start, Fortuna presented themselves as offensive and more alert than the guests – who were caught cold with the first Düsseldorf attack: Dawid Kownacki, back in the team after surviving a torn muscle fiber, celebrated his comeback with the quick opening goal after just 40 seconds.
Fortuna furious in the first round – and with two goals
Rouwen Hennings missed the great opportunity to increase the penalty after 18 minutes, failed by Braunschweig keeper Jasmin Fejzic. Seven minutes later Fejzic was beaten after all, Christoph Klarer headed in after a free kick from Shinta Appelkamp to make it 2-0.
After the change of sides, Robin Krausse provided the surprising connection with a directly converted corner kick – but the goal (62nd) only counted after video evidence: According to this, the ball had already crossed the line during the unsuccessful rescue operation by Düsseldorf keeper Florian Kastenmeier. Jona Niemiec made the decision two minutes before the final whistle.
The match winner for Fortuna was striker Kownacki, who tore a muscle fiber twelve days ago and was surprisingly in the starting XI after just one training session on Thursday. After his ninth goal of the season, the Pole also got the penalty and the free kick that led to the second Düsseldorf goal.
Curious Braunschweig hit after Kastenmeier’s rescue operation
The strangest scene, however, took place in front of Fortuna’s box, when Braunschweig scored the controversial goal: Keeper Kastenmeier fished Robin Krauße’s corner out of the air and secured the ball. Referee Sven Waschitzki-Günther checked the scene and decided after studying the video images that the ball should have been completely behind the line when Kastenmeier moved. Eintracht got courage again, but was too harmless overall and conceded the decisive third goal after a counterattack.
Düsseldorf has to go to Regensburg
On the 23rd match day, Fortuna Düsseldorf is a guest in Regensburg (Saturday, March 4th, 2023 at 1 p.m.). Braunschweig receives Arminia Bielefeld a day later (1.30 p.m.).