SV Elversberg defeated 1. FC Kaiserslautern 3-1 in the 2. Bundesliga, temporarily climbing to second place. In front of 49,179 spectators at Fritz-Walter-Stadion, a red card and an own goal created drama before the Saarlanders sealed the victory.
SV Elversberg has re-entered the promotion race in the 2. Bundesliga. In an intense local derby at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the Saarlanders won 3-1 (1-1 at halftime) and temporarily rose to second in the table. Kaiserslautern, under coach Torsten Lieberknecht, remains in sixth place with 31 points.
The match started energetically, with both teams pushing forward. The hosts had the first big chance in the 20th minute: Paul Joly hit the post from a cross by Mika Haas.
Drama unfolded just before halftime. In added time of the first half, FCK's Leon Robinson pulled down Elversberg's Maximilian Rohr in the penalty area. Referee Deniz Aytekin awarded a penalty after VAR review and sent Robinson off with a red card (45+5). Lukas Petkov converted the spot-kick confidently for the lead (45+6). Almost immediately, Rohr unluckily deflected a shot from Naatan Skyttä into his own net for the equalizer (45+9).
After the break, Elversberg dominated. David Mokwa scored the 2-1 (55.), and Luca Schnellbacher sealed the win (86.). The hosts played a man down in the second half, which proved costly.
This victory bolsters Elversberg's promotion hopes, while Kaiserslautern drops points.
