Mike Wunderlich celebrates against Hannover 96.

Mike Wunderlich leads 1. FC Kaiserslautern to a win against Hannover 96 in their 2nd Bundesliga opener on July 15, 2022.

Bundesliga 2 opener: 1. FC Kaiserslautern beat Hannover 96 on Friday evening. Thanks to a former Cologne player and a goal just before the end.

The 2nd Bundesliga is back! On Friday evening (July 15, 2022), 1. FC Kaiserslautern kicked off the new season with a home game against Hannover 96.

Finally live football again, with the promoted side winning 2-1 against Lower Saxony – who are in the extended group of 2nd Bundesliga favorites – in Betsenberg.

Mike Wunderlich fired Kaiserslautern into the lead

Mood? First class even before kick-off! 40,000 spectators created a tremulous atmosphere as all FCK celebrated its return to the second division after a four-year hiatus.

Coach Dirk Schuster’s team went into the game and the “Red Devils” put the guests under pressure from the start.

96 Central defender Julian Barner couldn’t handle the pressure in the twelfth minute and goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler’s back pass failed to clear the ball.

Stephan Leidl came on to equalize for Hannover 96

Lateron striker Terence Boyd took advantage of the situation when he ran into Mike Wunderlich and the former captain across the penalty area. Victoria Koln lead 1-0. Betsy rocked!

The game was tense thereafter and it was only in the second half that the visitors were the better side. About ten minutes before the end, the Hanoverians also rewarded themselves.

Substitute Cedric Teichert dribbled toward the baseline in the penalty area and passed to Howard Nielsen in the backcourt.

1. FC Kaiserslautern scored the winning goal in extra time

After that, not much happened until the second minute of stoppage time! After a corner, Kenny Prince Redondo put the ball into the middle with an overhead kick before Kevin Krause put the ball into the net to make it 2-1. Betze shivered again!

Wunderlich, who scored 1-0, said after the game: “We deserved it, we showed brutal passion. We know what’s going on in this stadium. We are a great group, we never give up, we always believe in it. Anything is possible in this stadium.”

The “Red Devils” then celebrated a 2-1 win in the opening round, and of course they are at the top of the table overnight. Kaiserslautern travel to Holstein Kiel next week to host Hannover 96 FC St. Pauli.

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