1. FC Nürnberg missed a great chance against 1. FC Kaiserslautern by conceding two late goals to calm the relegation battle prematurely.
On Sunday (May 7th, 2023), Nuremberg only managed a 3-3 draw against 1. FC Kaiserslautern after a 3-1 lead and missed the chance to gain a six-point cushion on the relegation zone with three games to go . With 34 points, the “Club” is four points ahead of the relegation place. Promoted Kaiserslautern (45 points) remain in seventh place.
Möller-Daehli gets the “Club” off to a flying start
Mats Möller-Daehli made a lightning start and put the “Club” ahead with the first chance (4th minute). Jens Castrop made it 2-0 with a header after a Möller-Daehli corner kick (35′). It was Nuremberg’s first goal this season after a corner kick, in the 163rd (!) attempt. Terrence Boyd made the connection for the “Red Devils” before the break (40th), who had previously not scored a goal away from home for 580 minutes.
“The fans have already helped us score a lot of points with their support and their power. When the fans raise a huge alarm in Nuremberg today, that’s a recognition for us on the one hand, and a huge obligation on the other to play a decent game,” said Kaiserslautern coach Dirk Schuster, adding to the fast-paced final phase of the game: “It was a intense fight, both teams gave each other nothing, the point is deserved.”
Kwadwo Duah restored the two-goal gap shortly after the restart (50′), Nuremberg’s striker steered Castrop’s shot into the net with his heel – his eleventh goal of the season, untenable for Kaiserslautern’s keeper Julian Krahl, who made his second division debut.
Niehues and Klement let FCK celebrate in the closing stages
Julian Niehues brought Lautern back into play with another goal (89th), Philipp Klement scored the equalizer in the fifth minute of injury time, which was no longer thought possible.
In front of 40,525 spectators, Nuremberg was the leading team for long stretches. After the early deficit, the Palatinate only got into the game after 20 minutes, but then showed themselves to be combative even after the 1:3 immediately after the restart. After Boyd and Philipp Hercher had already missed good chances, Niehues and Klement struck twice in the wild final phase – to the horror of Nuremberg.
Kaiserslautern welcomes Arminia Bielefeld
Next weekend, the “Club” will play away at 1. FC Magdeburg on Friday evening (6.30 p.m.) – and they need more points to clear up doubts about staying up in the league. Kaiserslautern is challenged at home against Arminia Bielefeld (Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 1 p.m.).