KSC winters in a direct promotion spot in the 2nd league – football

Led by the outstanding top scorer Budu Zivzivadze and thanks to ruthless efficiency, Karlsruher SC stormed into second place in the table on matchday 17. The Georgian scored his twelfth goal of the season in Baden’s lucky 2-1 (2-1) win at SC Paderborn and took the lead.

KSC coach Eichner: “I generally have a good night’s sleep”

The win meant that KSC was temporarily in first place in the table; on Sunday (December 22, 2024), 1. FC Köln moved past Karlsruhe with a 1-0 win at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. “We knew we could take a big step towards 40 points,” said KSC coach Christian Eichner after the game. It is therefore understandable that shortly before Christmas the burden will be lifted from him and the team.

“The KSC fans should dream better and sleep better than they have in months,” said the coach. “I generally have a good night’s sleep,” he grinned with relief into the ARD microphone. Nevertheless, Eichner obviously didn’t want to get excited too soon: “This league is crazy. It’s 50/50 games every week, so you can certainly understand my gray hair.”

Jung and Zivziwadze bring KSC to winning ways

Sebastian Jung (16th minute) and Zivzivadze (35th) put the guests in front. Raphael Obermair (45th, penalty kick) shortened the score, but could not prevent the third Paderborn game without a win in a row.

In the Paderborn Arena, KSC took the lead with their first offensive action when Zivzivadze unintentionally hung up for Jung while attempting a shot. “I’ve always had good finishes in the last few weeks,” said the goalscorer later. “But there was always a foot in between somewhere. Today there was no one in between, so all I had to do was push it in,” said the Karlsruher happily.

Shortly afterwards, David Herold (34th) prevented the equalizer with his save on the line, and in direct response the guests’ second shot on goal also ended up in the net: After a long ball from goalkeeper Max Weiß, Paderborn’s keeper Markus Schubert made a sticking error, and Zivzivadze made no mistake Effort.

Before the penalty kick, the video assistant switched on after Marcel Beifus hit Paderborn striker Felix Platte in the leg. It was the starting signal for furious attacks by the home team, who pinned Karlsruhe in their own penalty area at times in the second half. The ball flew from Herold’s head (49th) onto his own crossbar, goalkeeper Weiß prevented the equalizer several times.