Karlsruher SC is on the rise in the 2nd Bundesliga. The KSC achieved a 4-0 (1-0) win against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Saturday (March 2nd, 2024).
Igor Matanovic (42nd, 78th) scored the first two goals for Karlsruhe, who have now been unbeaten for seven home games. The loan player from Eintracht Frankfurt has already scored nine and ten goals this season. Substitute Fabian Schleusener (86th, 90th) put the final point.
With 35 points, the Baden team moved up to within three points of Fürth in eighth place. After only three points from the last five games, the Franconians (5th, 38 points) are slowly losing sight of the promotion places after a strong interim phase.
KSC brisk, Fürth faulty
Karlsruhe was wide awake in its local wildlife park from the start. After just nine minutes, KSC celebrated, but Matanovic was offside when he scored. But the start gave the hosts courage. Coach Christian Eichner’s team looked for the way forward in a dynamic and straightforward manner.
Matanovic (23rd) narrowly missed after a quick counterattack after winning the ball from 18 meters. Shortly afterwards, Marvin Wanitzek (25th) was denied by Fürth goalkeeper Jonas Urbig after a nice move down the left from a tight angle. The KSC went on and on. Fürth didn’t get into the game and so the KSC lead was the logical consequence.
Matanovic hits with his head
Wanitzek lobbed a cross from the left to the five-pointer as he was running in. There Matanovic prevailed in the header duel and pushed the ball into the right corner to make it 1-0. Since Fürth continued to fail offensively, KSC went into the half-time break with a deserved lead.
The hosts also made their mark at the start of the second 45 minutes. Wanitzek (48th) missed from a promising position after a pass from Paul Nebel. A little later, Wanitzek had even more freedom when KSC was awarded a penalty. But Karlsruhe’s number 10 took the penalty to the left of the goal (54′).
Matanovic hits with his foot
But that didn’t stop the hosts’ offensive drive. Dzenis Burnic narrowly missed the goal (61′). Urbig directed a powerful shot from Nebel (64′) over the crossbar. Fürth appeared dangerous in front of the Karlsruhe goal for the first time after 65 minutes. But Armindo Sieb aimed past the far corner after a solo shot from the left.
But nothing more came from the Franks. Instead, they initiated the decision themselves with a mistake. Branimir Hrgota made a bad pass in the build-up. Matanovic moved through the center into the penalty area and cleverly placed the shot into the left corner to make it 2-0. Fürth gave up. Before the 3-0, David Herold was allowed to dribble through half the defense and pass unhindered from the left back to Schleusener, who scored with a deflected shot to make it 3-0 and then made it 4-0 a little later.
Next top game for Karlsruhe
Fürth welcomes newly promoted SV Elversberg at home on matchday 25 (March 10, 2024, 1:30 p.m.). The KSC has to play second-placed Holstein Kiel (Saturday, 1 p.m.).
