Yardimci's 58th-minute header gives Kaiserslautern 1:0 win in Nürnberg

A tight top clash settled by one header

Kaiserslautern won 1:0 (0:0) at Nürnberg on Saturday, 24 October, in matchday nine of the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga. It was the first sell-out at the Max-Morlock-Stadion this season, with 47,000 spectators, and around 8,000 Kaiserslautern supporters made the trip. The result lifts the visitors to third place, level on 18 points with second-placed Nürnberg. For the hosts it was their first league defeat of the season, ending eight matches without losing and a third straight game without a win.

The opening phase was tense. Naatan Skyttä forced a save from Nürnberg keeper Jan Reichert in the third minute, and Kaiserslautern's Eric Porstner hit the crossbar with a header in the 19th minute. Nürnberg then took over the match, with Rayan Ghrieb and Piet Scobel firing shots from distance. Ghrieb's effort just before half-time, in the first minute of stoppage time, forced Julian Krahl into another save.

Krahl's saves and a collective defence

Kaiserslautern's goalkeeper Julian Krahl, 26, kept out Ghrieb's shot from the angle in the 23rd minute. After the final whistle he was modest about his own performance, saying:

“I do not know whether it was my best game for FCK.”

He credited the team's defensive work and named Jan Elvedi, Maxwell Gyamfi and Alex Murphy for their blocks, adding:

“Every player simply lives for the team.”

Coach Torsten Lieberknecht, 53, praised the goalkeeper's growing presence, pointing to his work on set pieces and in communication, and compared him with former Kaiserslautern keepers Ronny Hellström, Gerry Ehrmann and Sepp Stabel. Lieberknecht also praised both sides for the intensity of the contest:

“The game had an incredible intensity. That was the key to success for us.”

Yardimci's header and injury

Lieberknecht's substitutions proved decisive. Erencan Yardimci, who came on at half-time, headed the only goal after 58 minutes, his third goal of the season. He was taken off in the 67th minute and limped off the pitch. The reports do not give the nature of the injury or how long he will be out.

Nürnberg without Zoma and the table

Nürnberg were without their top scorer Mohamed Ali Zoma, who was hurt in the 1:1 draw at Energie Cottbus and needs a shoulder operation. He will be out at least until the winter break. Head coach Miroslav Klose started Rafael Lubach in Zoma's place, and the hosts could not turn their early pressure into a goal.

Hertha BSC keep the lead in the table, seven points ahead of Nürnberg and Kaiserslautern. In the same round Hertha beat Arminia Bielefeld 1:0 with a Josip Brekalo penalty in the 90+3rd minute, their eighth win in nine games. Kaiserslautern now sit in third place, the promotion play-off spot, with Nürnberg level on points.