After a hard fought first-half, Joel Pohjanpalo popped up from the bench to send Fortuna Düsseldorf into a somewhat undeserved lead. However, with just seconds remaining, Marcel Gaus got the goal he was after all afternoon to earn Kaiserslautern a point.
After a 1-1 draw with Heidenheim, Kosta Runjaic made two changes; Kerem Demirbay came in for Markus Karl, allowing Ruben Jenssen to drop into central midfield, while Philipp Hofmann replaced Srjdan Lakic. For second placed Fortuna, fresh from beating St.Pauli, Olli Reck refreshed his team. Lars Unnerstall took Michael Rensing's place in goal, while Tugrul Erat and Erwin Hoffer's arrivals switched up the front-line; as Charlison Benschop and Joel Pohjanpalo dropped out of the starting eleven.
The hosts, bouyed by a 32,000 strong ferocious atmosphere, almost took a first minute lead. A magnificent through-ball from Stuttgart loanee Kevin Stöger found Marcel Gaus, but Lars Unnerstall stood tall to palm away the attacker's chip. It was a strong start from the red devils but Axel Bellinghausen's mazy run, that was close to providing a goal, kept Willi Orban and Dominique Heintz on their toes.
Neither side wanted to throw bodies foward early on, that was especially clear with Fortuna's resolute defensive approach. It was a game that lacked a spark, even with the fantastic build-up and support, but both teams were struggling to create a clear cut-chance. Kerem Demirbay was seeing plenty of the ball, along with his fellow central players, though the staunch back-line of Fortuna's were giving them no opportunities.
When the visitors finally broke out of their shell, it was nothing more than for a moment. Even then, their attempts at hitting Kaiserslautern on the counter were poor and shot-lived. The best chance, after Gaus' early opening, came from a dead ball situation. After being fouled, Demirbay sent a beautifully flighted, curling costless-kick over the wall; only for Unnerstall to pull off a fantastic save.
An exciting opening to the second-half followed, with the introduction of Karim Matmour. His menacing dribbling style forced open the Fortuna defence, but not one of three arriving Kaiserlautern players attempted to get on the end of his tempting cut-back. The Algerian was a cut above everyone else and after creating space for Jenssen, the Norway midfielder's cross was inch perfect for Philipp Hofmann to head home. Unfortunately, the front-man was fractionally offside.
The game was beginning to open up more and more, and with Fortuna keen on a point, the physicality of the game was bumped up a notch. Erwin Hoffer, Lukas Schmitz and Matmour were booked in quick succession, with a few other wild tackles flying in from both sides. While the tackle was clean this time, Alexander Ring suffered a serious knee injury and was immediately substituted; the Finnish midfielder was immediately reaching for his knee, as signals to the bench were instantaneous.
The arrival of the inform Joel Pohjanpalo soon made a difference, as the 'Iceman' sent Fortuna into the lead. Unnerstall's long-ball forward was flicked on by Erat and then Michael Liendl, finding Pohjanpalo. Still with plenty to do, his touch spun him away from the watchful eye of Orban and gained the striker a vital few yards. After composing himself, he drove the ball across the helpless Peter Sippel and sent the visiting fans in rapture.
The hosts pilled on the pressure and when Gaus clipped the bar, it seemed as if they they wouldn't find an answer to the goal that was very much against the run of play. However, the winger would not be kept out the entire game. 92 minutes on the clock, Chris Löwe's driven cross seemed to be evading the attentions of everyone, until Marcel Gaus stuck out a hopeful right-foot and guided the ball past Unnerstall.
Kaiserslautern will feel hard done by to only take a point, especially in a game that they largely dominated, but they will be equally happy that it is one and not none.; Nothing can be taken away from Reck and his men, who executed their game plan to a 'T' - despite how defensively they played. However, they will be disappointed to let their lead slip so late on and with that the joint lead with Ingolstadt.