Nuremberg defeat leaves Düsseldorf hanging
Düsseldorf - Goal difference remains the only thing between Fortuna Düsseldorf and the relegation play-off place after defeat at the hands of 1. FC Nuremberg.
Different animal
Desperate for the points, Norbert Meier named an attacking line-up for the visit of der Club, with Matthis Bolly and super sub Dani Schahin handed starts. Andreas Lambertz was also back to skipper the side, and it was the Fortuna old hand who made the telling contribution to put the hosts in front, his cross turned into his own net by Hanno Balitsch after 23 minutes.
Nuremberg re-emerged after the break an altogether different proposition, with Robert Mak finding a way past Fortuna custodian Fabian Giefer within eight minutes of the restart. Marvin Plattenhardt completed the comeback six minutes later, the second-half substitute whipping an unstopppable free kick into the net from 20 yards.
Fortuna substitute Stefan Reisinger spurned a decent opportunity to restore parity, but it was the visitors who should arguably have stretched their lead but for some fine goalkeeping from Giefer. Winless in eleven, 15th-place Fortuna now go into the final game of the season at Hannover needing a win to be sure of beating the drop.
Line-ups and statistics
