Eintracht manager Armin Veh made four changes to the starting 11 compared to last week's away defeat against 1860: Constant Djakpa replaced Gergios Tzavellas in left defense and Erwin 'Jimmy' Hoffer started up front alongside Fanis Gekas while Matthias Lehmann stayed on the bench. Thomas Kessler was in goal again after he already came on last week due to Oka Nikolov's injury, Stefan Bell started instead of Bamba Anderson in central defense.
31,700 again saw an early goal in the very first minute - like in Munich last week - this time the Eagles were the team grabbing the early lead. It took just under 50 seconds until Gekas netted, first Pirmin Schwegler recovered the ball in midfield and via Rode it came to Meier who had a shot that wasn't controlled by KSC keeper Robles, Gekas was at hand to bring Eintracht one up (1').
For around 20 minutes after the goal Eintracht was controlling the match without getting too close to the KSC goal, the opponents stood deep and defended well. Then a Jung shot from 12 meters went just over the bar, he had played a one-two with Rode (22'). A little later Delron Buckley had a go from long range but Eintracht keeper Kessler was at the end of it (29'). Eintracht skipper Schwegler took a beautiful curling free-kick that would have left KSC keeper Robles without a chance, but he hit the left post (32').
Kessler showed a good save against Krebs (35') - Karslruhe proved to be a quite uncomfortable opponent. It was a tight 1-0 lead at half time.
Armin Veh brought on Karim Matmour for Hoffer after the break and the Eagles increased the pressure on KSC. A long free-kick cross of Schwegler was headed towards goal by Schildenfeld and hit the post again (52'). Shortly after it was Krebs again who had a go from deep angle but again Eintracht goalkeeper Kessler denied him with a confident save (53').
Then it was Schwegler again - he recorded the most ball touches in this match (93) - who recovered the ball and after a decent run set up Meier on the right. His sharp cross into the box found Gekas who hit home from close range (66') - 2-0! Gekas 7th goal of the season gave the Eagles a boost and they came close to adding the third. Rode (68'), Matmour (74') and Meier twice (74', 84') had attempts but could not find the net.
It was a well deserved 2-0 win after all with a much improved performance after the break. The Eagles move up to the top of the league again, at least until Fortuna Düsseldorf have played their match (away to MSV Duisburg on Monday). It was a successful first season half for Eintracht who collected 38 of 51 possible points scoring 41 goals. Two more matches are scheduled ahead of the winter break: Eintracht will host Greuther Fürth (currently ranked 3rd) next Monday and will travel to Hamburg to meet St. Pauli (currently 4th) a week later for the last match of the year.
