Despite a first-half brace from Sebastian Freis, 1. FC Kaiserslautern came back from the dead to secure an unlikely 2-4 win over Greuther Fürth.
Super start for Fürth
The home side began the better of the two teams, and should have been ahead through Robert Zulj in the opening few minutes. A penetrating run from Freis saw him square the ball to his Austrian team-mate, who was brilliantly denied by Marius Müller.
Kaisersalutern didn't learn their lesson, however, and allowed Freis to go on a similarly mazy dribble less than 120 seconds later. He cut past one, two, three and four of the visiting defenders, before going one-on-one with Müller. The former Freiburg forward showed Zulj how to take his chances, as he calmly slotted the ball past the oncoming 'keeper to open the scoring.
Freis was on form and was able to net an equally impressive second. Everything good was coming from the Fürth left and a cross from Niko Gießelmann was headed away but only as far as the penalty spot. Ready and waiting was Freis, who thundered home a stunning volley into the top corner. His technique was spot on, and Müller was powerless to stop it from finding the back of the net.
All change in the second half
The second half began with Jurgen Gjasula firing mere inches over the bar after another lovely, following move from the Shamrocks. That strike should have put them out of sight, and were made to regret not taking their chances a few minutes later. Kacper Przybylko would not be out-done against his former employers, and reduced the deficit with a great finish of his own. Chris Löwe drilled the ball into his feet, allowing the Pole to spin and half-volley it into the opposite corner.
It didn't look like it would prove to be anything more than that, but two goals in two second half minutes meant that the Red Devils found themselves ahead late on. After a series of attempts from both teams to bring the ball down, it eventually came the way of Tim Heubach on the edge of the area. The centre-back isn't known for his shooting, but he struck a fabulous drive from the edge of the area that kissed the inside of the post to draw the game level.
Less than 60 seconds later, and Przybylko had his second. Löwe and the lofty forward teamed up again, as the captain picked out the unmarked Pole to power a header past Sebastian Mielitz and into the back of the net. There was even time for a fourth, as Maurice Deville finished off a flying counter-attack by blasting into an open net. What looked to be an easy win quickly turned into a day to forget for the hosts.