FCK Wins Top of the Table Clash
In matchday 14’s top of the table clash, the Red Devils defeat Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 in front of their home crowd, cementing their position at the very top of the table thanks to a second-half header by Sidney Sam (73).
The 35,042 crowd at Fritz Walter Stadium saw the home side defending their top position against second-placed Arminia Bielefeld in this week’s crunch encounter at the Betzenberg. Sticking to his successful eleven, FCK head coach Marco Kurz did not make any changes to the team that won in Berlin last Monday.
Once the referee whistled play underway on a cold Monday evening in the Palatinate, the Red Devils dropped heavy hints as to why they are top of the table. With barely two minutes on the clock, Sidney Sam outperformed his opponents on the left and could only be stopped at the penalty area boundary line. Showing the visitors who is wearing the pants around here, the home side went on attacking Arminia’s goal. First, Mandjeck reached the ball too late and seconds later, a brilliant give-and-go between Erik Jendrisek and Adam Nemec resulted in the next scoring opportunity, but Jendrisek’s promising shot was blocked by one of the guests. Tackling lustily and bristling with menace on the break, the visibly on-fire home side seized the game by the scruff of the neck and began creating chances at regular intervals. On 14 minutes, a thundering Alex Bugera low shot missed the target by the fraction of an inch.
FCK-Bielefeld
With the league’s best flat defenses facing each other, the action died down midway through the half. The visitors played more offensively but the strong Red Devils’ defensive bulwark stood tight. Kasper Risgaard tried his luck with a 20 yard long shot just to be saved Tobi Sippel (29). Six minutes later, Lautern’s shot-stopper performed heroics to deny Risgaard again. In the closing stages of the first half, the visitor’s side enhanced the pressure while the home side was searching for the gap in the opponent’s defense at the other end. Seconds before the interval, Adam Nemec had the best chance to put his team in front but his header missed the goal by a hairbreadth.
The second half began with another scoring opportunity for the hosts but Dennis Eilhoff saved capably from Ivo Ilicevic as the home side’s much-traveled winger tried his luck from 13 yards. Both teams fought fiercely displaying their great determination to win three points here tonight. On 59 minutes, Tobi Sippel made another stunning reaction save to deny Federico’s thundering long shot. Three minutes later, the Red Devils started another attack with Ivo Ilicevic leaving behind his markers on the right just to be stopped in the goal box. Adam Nemec combined with Erik Jendrisek but the Slovak’s shot from close range thundered over the bar. A few minutes later, however, the hosts had more luck when Erik Jendrisek trapped the ball in the midfield releasing Ilicevic into space on the right side. Ilicevic made his way towards the opponent’s goal handing Sidney Sam a brilliant opportunity on a golden plate. FCK’s Germany Under-21 player headed the ball into the net putting the home side into the lead 17 minutes from time.
Afterwards, the visitors really pressed for the equalizer and enhanced the pressure. However, the home side demonstrated their great fighting spirit again and kept their nerves until the final whistle was blown. The fans at Fritz Walter Stadium saw an action-packed and thrilling match with the Red Devils taking the lead on 73 minutes cementing their top spot in a tantalizing Monday evening game.
Statistics:
1. FC Kaiserslautern – Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 (0-0)
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Sippel - Dick, Amedick, Rodnei, Bugera – Ilicevic (90 Pavlovic), Bilek, Mandjeck (Schulz, 85), Sam - Jendrisek, Nemec
Arminia Bielefeld: Dennis Eilhoff – Michael Lamey , Andre Mijatovic, Radim Kucera, Arne Feick - Rüdiger Kauf (Janjic, 88 )- Ch. Katongo, Giovanni Federico, Kasper Risgaard, Daniel Halfar (Guela, 81)- Pavel Fort
Goals: 1-0 Sam (73)
Yellow cards:
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Nemec (81), Bilek (88 )
Arminia Bielefeld: Lamey (44),
Match officials: Sippel – Hofmann, Cortus - Ostheimer
Attendance: 35,042
In matchday 14’s top of the table clash, the Red Devils defeat Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 in front of their home crowd, cementing their position at the very top of the table thanks to a second-half header by Sidney Sam (73).
The 35,042 crowd at Fritz Walter Stadium saw the home side defending their top position against second-placed Arminia Bielefeld in this week’s crunch encounter at the Betzenberg. Sticking to his successful eleven, FCK head coach Marco Kurz did not make any changes to the team that won in Berlin last Monday.
Once the referee whistled play underway on a cold Monday evening in the Palatinate, the Red Devils dropped heavy hints as to why they are top of the table. With barely two minutes on the clock, Sidney Sam outperformed his opponents on the left and could only be stopped at the penalty area boundary line. Showing the visitors who is wearing the pants around here, the home side went on attacking Arminia’s goal. First, Mandjeck reached the ball too late and seconds later, a brilliant give-and-go between Erik Jendrisek and Adam Nemec resulted in the next scoring opportunity, but Jendrisek’s promising shot was blocked by one of the guests. Tackling lustily and bristling with menace on the break, the visibly on-fire home side seized the game by the scruff of the neck and began creating chances at regular intervals. On 14 minutes, a thundering Alex Bugera low shot missed the target by the fraction of an inch.
FCK-Bielefeld
With the league’s best flat defenses facing each other, the action died down midway through the half. The visitors played more offensively but the strong Red Devils’ defensive bulwark stood tight. Kasper Risgaard tried his luck with a 20 yard long shot just to be saved Tobi Sippel (29). Six minutes later, Lautern’s shot-stopper performed heroics to deny Risgaard again. In the closing stages of the first half, the visitor’s side enhanced the pressure while the home side was searching for the gap in the opponent’s defense at the other end. Seconds before the interval, Adam Nemec had the best chance to put his team in front but his header missed the goal by a hairbreadth.
The second half began with another scoring opportunity for the hosts but Dennis Eilhoff saved capably from Ivo Ilicevic as the home side’s much-traveled winger tried his luck from 13 yards. Both teams fought fiercely displaying their great determination to win three points here tonight. On 59 minutes, Tobi Sippel made another stunning reaction save to deny Federico’s thundering long shot. Three minutes later, the Red Devils started another attack with Ivo Ilicevic leaving behind his markers on the right just to be stopped in the goal box. Adam Nemec combined with Erik Jendrisek but the Slovak’s shot from close range thundered over the bar. A few minutes later, however, the hosts had more luck when Erik Jendrisek trapped the ball in the midfield releasing Ilicevic into space on the right side. Ilicevic made his way towards the opponent’s goal handing Sidney Sam a brilliant opportunity on a golden plate. FCK’s Germany Under-21 player headed the ball into the net putting the home side into the lead 17 minutes from time.
Afterwards, the visitors really pressed for the equalizer and enhanced the pressure. However, the home side demonstrated their great fighting spirit again and kept their nerves until the final whistle was blown. The fans at Fritz Walter Stadium saw an action-packed and thrilling match with the Red Devils taking the lead on 73 minutes cementing their top spot in a tantalizing Monday evening game.
Statistics:
1. FC Kaiserslautern – Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 (0-0)
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Sippel - Dick, Amedick, Rodnei, Bugera – Ilicevic (90 Pavlovic), Bilek, Mandjeck (Schulz, 85), Sam - Jendrisek, Nemec
Arminia Bielefeld: Dennis Eilhoff – Michael Lamey , Andre Mijatovic, Radim Kucera, Arne Feick - Rüdiger Kauf (Janjic, 88 )- Ch. Katongo, Giovanni Federico, Kasper Risgaard, Daniel Halfar (Guela, 81)- Pavel Fort
Goals: 1-0 Sam (73)
Yellow cards:
1.FC Kaiserslautern: Nemec (81), Bilek (88 )
Arminia Bielefeld: Lamey (44),
Match officials: Sippel – Hofmann, Cortus - Ostheimer
Attendance: 35,042