A phenomenal team performance from FSV Frankfurt saw them secure a hugely impressive performance over high-flying Kaiserslautern. Vincenzo Grifo opened the scoring with an amazing free-kick, before Zlatko Dedic sealed the points late on.
Two wins in a row had shown everyone just what Benno Möhlmann's side was capable of coming into their third game against a top-half outfit. The wins against 1. FC Nürnberg and RB Leipzig had filled them with confidence and their coach made just one alteration from the side victorious in Leipzig. Joni Kauko was replaced by Vincenzo Grifo for a more attack-minded FSV Frankfurt setup.
Everything was beginning to fall into place for Kosta Runjaic and his men, as FC Ingolstadt dropped points for the second consecutive weekend. The opportunity was there to close the gap to their Bavarian rivals and following their 1-0 win over VfR Aalen, he made two changes. Simon Zoller and Jean Zimmer dropped to the bench, allowing Alexander Ring and Kevin Stöger to return to the starting line-up.
The visitors were making all the early running in the opening stages, with Hanno Balitsch and his fellow defenders forced into some less than conventional blocks. When Kasierslautern got the ball on target, they were met with an in-form Patrick Klandt; the FSV stopper did well to parry Chris Löwe's powerful volley.
Though it was Frankfurt who created the best opening in the opening twenty minutes. A great run and cross from Alexander Bittroff teed up Mohamed Aoudia at the back post; faced with an open goal, the Algerian couldn't keep his volley down and the Red Devils were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Mario Engels was continuing to impress on the wings, with the youngster a constant menace for Michael Schulze and Stöger; so much so that they were having to double up in order to keep him at bay.
What Aoudia couldn't manage from two yards, he could from twenty-five. The ball fell kindly for the Frankfurt forward and he unleashed a dipping, moving volley that sent Tobias Sippel scrambling across his goal to palm it away.
Moments later he was required tip away a free-kick that drifted past everyone, before then pulling off a fantastic acrobatic save to deny Joan Oumari's spectacular bicycle kick. There was one problem for Runjaic's men before the break, Dominique Heintz picked up a nasty knock and was replaced by Tim Heubach after the restart.
Both sides began the second half in a more conservative manner, but Engels was still troubling the Kaiserslautern defence. Sippel had to race out twice to deny the winger and keep his side level, who were struggling to get things moving in attack.
The pair made attacking changes in a bid to freshen up the game, with Timm Golley replacing Engels and Amin Younes coming on for Stöger. There was no doubt in the commitment on show, it became clear that something special would be needed to make the breakthrough.
Step up Vincenzo Grifo. The Italian stood over a free-kick around thirty yards from goal, left of centre, he whipped the ball up and over the ball and sent it flying into the top corner. A goal that wouldn't look of place in the Bundesliga, the Hoffenheim loanee had sent the Volksbank Arena into a frenzy.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Aoudia's exuberance got the better of him and he went into one challenge too many. Already on a yellow card, René Rohde had no option other than to show him a second booking and give him his marching orders.
There was time for one last hurrah; the expected Kaiserslautern onslaught didn't materialise and instead the hosts took full advantage of Willi Orabn's slip to make it 2-0. Zlatko Dedic had time and space to pick his spot, firing underneath Sippel and confirming all three points for FSV.
The three points takes Grifo and co. into eighth place, a fantastic achievement from a team that was battling relegation for the majority of the Hinrunde, with a trip to VfL Bochum on Friday night.
Kaiserslautern will be desperately disappointed that they didn't cut Ingolstadt's lead at the top of the table and instead lose ground on die Schanzer. They'll hope to bounce back, also on Friday, when they welcome Greuther Fürth to the Fritz Walter Stadion.