Kaiserslautern sink Fürth to advance into the Pokal round of 16

A solitary goal from Naatan Skyttä proved to be enough to send the Betzenberg club through to the last-16.

This second-round cup clash pitted a pair of 2.Bundesliga sides against each other. In the end, it was Kaiserslautern who advanced with a 1-0 win and took the lead inside 12 minutes with the only goal of the game. 

Marlon Ritter was rewarded for his aggressive pressing to win back possession and picked out Naatan Skyttä. The Finnish attacker, initially kept out by Silas Prüfrock, made amends with the rebound from a yard out. 

Fürth eventually settled and Felix Klaus ought to have equalised from a tight angle before the break but fired over the bar instead. Lautern also had a chance through Alidou which was snuffed out by a brave Prüfrock. 

The second-half brought on better chances for Fürth. Philipp Ziereis headed over from a neat corner routine, while the tricky feet of Branimir Hrgota created space to shoot but Simon Simoni extended a boot to the ball.

Kaiserslautern’s Sahin and Skyttä almost combined to double their lead with 20 minutes remaining but for Dietz’s intervention.  Fürth substitute Aaron Keller spurned a big chance when his feet have way in a one-on-one position.

With Fürth chasing the game, Omar Sillah’s substitution summed up their luck. An instant booking upon his arrival was followed up with a red card for a trip on Haas. Thomas Kleine’s 10-men couldn’t find that all-important goal in six minutes of added time to force extra-time.