A late goal in either half for Karlsruher's, Rouwen Hennings, gave Markus Kauczinski’s side a vital 2-0 win at the Eintracht-Stadion against fellow promotion-hopefuls, Braunschweig; a result which ends the home sides chances of a swift return to the Bundesliga, whilst KSC's hopes of top-flight German football next season are enhanced as they jump into third, just one point off automatic promotion.

The Karlsruhe outfit headed north having made just two changes to the side that lost against automatic promotion hopefuls, Darmstadt, last Monday evening. Dimitrij Nazarov replaced Hiroki Yamada in KSC’s forward line, the highest away scorers in 2.Bundesliga, whilst Dominic Peitz came in for Bulgarian, Ilian Micanski, in boss Kauczinski’s side.

Braunshweig head coach, Torsten Lieberknecht, rung five changes to the team that handsomely lost at FC Nürnberg last weekend, as substitute goalscorer a week ago, Emil Berggreen, came into the starting XI in place of top-scorer, Havard Nielsen. Saulo Dercali and Benjamin Kessel were replaced by Deniz Doggan and Max Sauer defensively, whilst Slovenian, Nick Omladic, and experienced midfielder, Marc Pfitzner, returned in place of Norman Theuerkauf and Jan Washausen for Die Lowen, whom had won four of their last six league encounters before kick-off.

With both sides battling for a promotion-playoff spot and within four points of third placed Kaiserslauten, the tie started in ferocious fashion with a flurry of bookings within the first minute, as the Lions, Jan Hochscheidt and Pfitzner, alongside Karlsruher’s, Peitz, were cautioned by referee Felix Byrch.

Following a tight and scrappy opening it was the visitors to threaten at goal first as defender, Enrico Valentini, and Nazarov were both denied by home ‘keeper Rafal Gikiewicz, with long and close range efforts respectively.

Neither side were gaining an advantage in an even affair, although Omladic and Dogan both wasted promising chances for Braunschweig as the half progressed beyond the midway point. Alike both sides steady trajectory towards the upper echelons of the 2.Bundesliga table this season, the two promotion hopefuls were feeling themselves into the encounter whilst possessing a threat going forward.

As the half was ticking towards to its conclusion, once again midfielder, Omladic, chanced an effort from long range but the Slovenians shot, predictably to that point, was off target. Die Lowen were gradually finding a hold on a fairly even first period when they were caught with a sucker punch from the Karlsruhe outfit, as after losing possession on the halfway line, the visitors sprung forward to supply a through ball for top-scorer, Hennings, to put Kauczinski’s team ahead.

From just inside the 18-yard box, Hennings’ scuffed effort rolled past Gikiewicz as he scored his 16th goal of the season and his 11th since the turn of the year with minutes remaining in the first period.

Braunschweig captain, Ken Reichel, still found time to level matters, however with the defender close to the visitors goal, his shot come cross drifted wide of the post, as Byrch drew a close to proceedings with KSC leading the Lions 1-0 at the break.

Boss Lieberknecht made one change during half-time as benched top-scorer Nielsen replaced Hochscheidt in the Braunschweig forward line for the second period.

As matters stood Die Lowen would find themselves out of the promotion picture if they couldn’t get themselves back into the tie, so unsurprisingly they were quickly out of the blocks in the second period, although attempts from Hendrick Zuck, making his loan a permanent move from next season earlier in the week, Mirko Boland and dangerman, Omladic, all failed to restore parity for the home side.

Referee Byrch produced his fourth and fifth cautions of the afternoon as substitute Nielsen, within ten minutes of arriving, and KSC’s, Meffert, were booked within minutes of each other, as the Lions were beginning to dominate proceddings, with the visitors relying on counter-attacks to enhance their own promotion hopes.

The home side made their second change of the tie midway through the second half as Julius Duker replaced Pfitzner with Braunchsweig going through the gears in pursuit of an equaliser, however the visitors were defending valiantly to keep themselves ahead. Karlsruher’s, Reinhold Yabo and Braunshweig’s, Berggreen, were next into a, card-happy, referee’s notebook, as substitute Duker came close twice in succession to levelling matters for the Lions.

Karlsruher were now heavily relying on counter-attacking football, although as the home side pushed further forward to keep their season alive, KSC’s Nazarov had a long-range sighter at goal well saved by Gikiewicz, his last action of the game as he was substituted for Ylli Sallahi with the encounter reaching the last ten minutes.

Braunschweig made their final change of the tie with the unfortunate, Omladic, replaced with defender Kessel as the game was petering away from Lieberknecht‘s side. KSC were finding far more space in the home sides half to kill the game off, as Hennings chanced an effort form long range to double the lead, although the Germans shot didn’t trouble the hosts' goal.

With the tie and promotion slipping away for Die Lowen, a melee in the box following a Zuck corner, effectively ended the encounter as referee Byrch continued his production of cards, this time revealing red to Karlsruher’s, Peitz and Braunschweig’s, Reichel. It took the tally of cards to ten in a game which to that point was heatly contested without any over-zealous challenges. However, with both sides down to ten men, Braunschweig were unable to sustain their hold on proceedings and the potent Hennings poured further misery on the home side, as he stroked home with three minutes remaining to seal all three points and end any hopes of promotion The Lions held before kick-off.

Boland and Kessel both had chances in injury time to find some sort of consolation for the hosts, but neither, like so many attempts before them, were good enough to cross 'keeper, Dirk Orlishausen's line.

Eintracht Braunschweig remain fifth on 50 points following the loss, but now find themselves five points behind the promotion playoff spot in third with only one game remaining, meaning their bid for an immediate return to the Bundesliga has now ended this season.

Karlsruher SC however, move up into third and the promotion-playoff spot, thanks to Rouwen Hennings double and Kaiserslauten’s 0-0 draw away at FC Erzgebirge Aue.      .

KSC lead the fourth placed Red Devils on goal difference, with a home game at Wildparkstadion against 1860 Munich next weekend to seal a playoff spot, or better, leap into second and automatic promotion, as they now lay just one point behind second placed, Darmstadt.