Red Devils Take Top Spot
The moment we have all been waiting for finally has arrived. On matchday 13, November 23, 2009, the Red Devils met Union Berlin at the stadium Alte Foersterei in Germany’s capital where a 19,000 capacity crowd saw 1. FC Kaiserslautern defeating the home side 2-0 under floodlights claiming top spot in the table on a wet and chilly evening.
The Red Devils capture the top spot of the table thanks to goals by team captain Martin Amedick (30) and Erik Jendrisek (78 ).
Marco Kurz’s men went to Berlin with a clean road games sheet but aware of the heavy task they were facing there. FCK boss Kurz made only one change to the team that defeated Oberhausen at home two weeks ago replacing Dragan Paljic by the fit again Ivo Ilicevic. With the support of 2,000 fans, the Red Devils entered the filed of play on a rainy and windy evening in Germany’s capital.
Once play began after a minute’s silence in memory of deceased Germany keeper Robert Enke, the crowd was treated to a lively opening spell with the better start for the guests. Just nine minutes were on the clock when an attempt from 20 yards by Florian Dick flew just over the crossbar. But it was by no means one-way traffic as both sides sent heavy hints as to why they are among the best teams of the league. However, both flat defenses intercepted the attacks of their respective opponents. On the half-hour, FCK player Alex Bugera sent a well-targeted corner kick in the Berlin box just to be caught by Rodnei whose header was parried by Union shot-stopper Glinker. FCK team captain Martin Amedick, however, seized the opportunity thundering the ball into the net leaving Glinker without any chance to save FCK’s second attempt.
Raiding right-back, the home side had the best first-half scoring opportunity when Rauw’s cannoning shot flew just over the bar, missing the target by the fraction of an inch. Motivated by the crowd, the home side really pressed for the equalizer afterwards. Nonetheless, the FCK defense once again displayed a strong and convincing performance preventing equalization.
Union Berlin-FCK
The sides turned round with a 1-0 lead for the guests from the Palatinate. Kurz’s men did not stop to attack the opponent’s goal but were pressing for the second hit. A few minutes after the re-start, Erik Jendrisek and Sidney Sam created the next scoring opportunity. However, Jendrisek’s attempt flew wide. On 55 minutes then, the home side forced Tobi Sippel to perform a heroic save to stop a Dogan shot from 24 yards. Afterwards, Berlin even enhanced the pressure but was lacking crucial luck.
The visitors were in need of the second and decisive goal as the hosts enhanced the pressure making any effort to score the equalizer. Tobias Sippel and the entire FCK defense were forced to show their quality once and again. With nearly no player beyond the halfway line and every force within the own half, the visitors had lots of work to do preventing the home side from scoring the equalizer. On 78 minutes, the tide turned when Jendrisek made his way towards the opponent’s goal leaving behind his markers. The Slovak did not hesitate to convert his great chance putting his team in the lead 2-0 a few minutes from time. Afterwards, sub Daniel Pavlovic, Sidney Sam and again Erik Jendrisek even had their chance to make it three but failed. However, picking up three points in Berlin, the Red Devils remain unbeaten away from home and take the top spot in the table. The Red Devils look forward to next Monday when they will welcome second-placed Arminia Bielefeld at the Betzenberg!
Statistics
Union Berlin - 1. FC Kaiserslautern 0-2 (0-1)
Union Berlin: Glinker – Rauw, Stuff, Göhlert, Parensen – Younga-Mouhani – Mattuschka (Gebhardt 61), Dogan, Kohlmann, Sahin - Benyamina
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Sippel - Dick, Amedick, Rodnei, Bugera – Ilicevic (Pavlovic 72), Bilek, Mandjeck (Schulz 88 ), Sam - Jendrisek, Nemec (Lakic 88 )
Goals
0-1 Amedick (30)
0-2 Jendrisek (78 )
Yellow cards
Union Berlin: Sahin, Göhlert
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Jendrisek
Match officials: Stark - Salver, Valentin - Häcker
Attendance: 19,000
www.fck.de
The moment we have all been waiting for finally has arrived. On matchday 13, November 23, 2009, the Red Devils met Union Berlin at the stadium Alte Foersterei in Germany’s capital where a 19,000 capacity crowd saw 1. FC Kaiserslautern defeating the home side 2-0 under floodlights claiming top spot in the table on a wet and chilly evening.
The Red Devils capture the top spot of the table thanks to goals by team captain Martin Amedick (30) and Erik Jendrisek (78 ).
Marco Kurz’s men went to Berlin with a clean road games sheet but aware of the heavy task they were facing there. FCK boss Kurz made only one change to the team that defeated Oberhausen at home two weeks ago replacing Dragan Paljic by the fit again Ivo Ilicevic. With the support of 2,000 fans, the Red Devils entered the filed of play on a rainy and windy evening in Germany’s capital.
Once play began after a minute’s silence in memory of deceased Germany keeper Robert Enke, the crowd was treated to a lively opening spell with the better start for the guests. Just nine minutes were on the clock when an attempt from 20 yards by Florian Dick flew just over the crossbar. But it was by no means one-way traffic as both sides sent heavy hints as to why they are among the best teams of the league. However, both flat defenses intercepted the attacks of their respective opponents. On the half-hour, FCK player Alex Bugera sent a well-targeted corner kick in the Berlin box just to be caught by Rodnei whose header was parried by Union shot-stopper Glinker. FCK team captain Martin Amedick, however, seized the opportunity thundering the ball into the net leaving Glinker without any chance to save FCK’s second attempt.
Raiding right-back, the home side had the best first-half scoring opportunity when Rauw’s cannoning shot flew just over the bar, missing the target by the fraction of an inch. Motivated by the crowd, the home side really pressed for the equalizer afterwards. Nonetheless, the FCK defense once again displayed a strong and convincing performance preventing equalization.
Union Berlin-FCK
The sides turned round with a 1-0 lead for the guests from the Palatinate. Kurz’s men did not stop to attack the opponent’s goal but were pressing for the second hit. A few minutes after the re-start, Erik Jendrisek and Sidney Sam created the next scoring opportunity. However, Jendrisek’s attempt flew wide. On 55 minutes then, the home side forced Tobi Sippel to perform a heroic save to stop a Dogan shot from 24 yards. Afterwards, Berlin even enhanced the pressure but was lacking crucial luck.
The visitors were in need of the second and decisive goal as the hosts enhanced the pressure making any effort to score the equalizer. Tobias Sippel and the entire FCK defense were forced to show their quality once and again. With nearly no player beyond the halfway line and every force within the own half, the visitors had lots of work to do preventing the home side from scoring the equalizer. On 78 minutes, the tide turned when Jendrisek made his way towards the opponent’s goal leaving behind his markers. The Slovak did not hesitate to convert his great chance putting his team in the lead 2-0 a few minutes from time. Afterwards, sub Daniel Pavlovic, Sidney Sam and again Erik Jendrisek even had their chance to make it three but failed. However, picking up three points in Berlin, the Red Devils remain unbeaten away from home and take the top spot in the table. The Red Devils look forward to next Monday when they will welcome second-placed Arminia Bielefeld at the Betzenberg!
Statistics
Union Berlin - 1. FC Kaiserslautern 0-2 (0-1)
Union Berlin: Glinker – Rauw, Stuff, Göhlert, Parensen – Younga-Mouhani – Mattuschka (Gebhardt 61), Dogan, Kohlmann, Sahin - Benyamina
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Sippel - Dick, Amedick, Rodnei, Bugera – Ilicevic (Pavlovic 72), Bilek, Mandjeck (Schulz 88 ), Sam - Jendrisek, Nemec (Lakic 88 )
Goals
0-1 Amedick (30)
0-2 Jendrisek (78 )
Yellow cards
Union Berlin: Sahin, Göhlert
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Jendrisek
Match officials: Stark - Salver, Valentin - Häcker
Attendance: 19,000
www.fck.de