Paderborn 1-0 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Heuer 78'

Neck-and-neck on points going into their Friday encounter at the Home Deluxe Arena, both sides were eager to gain a win that promised the prize of a provisional spot in the division’s top three. An open contest soon ensued, with Philipp Klement and then Julian Justvan spurning chances at both ends. Motoring along on 10 second-tier goals prior to this game, former USMNT international Terence Boyd looked to add to his tally as the half progressed. The 32-year-old flashed a shot across the face of the target while he would later be denied by a goal-saving tackle from Heuer. Prior to the latter chance, Marvin Pieringer deflected Marcel Hoffmeier’s centre over as the hosts caused problems.

Kaiserslautern’s recent run of five successive wins was checked by St. Pauli last weekend, but the Red Devils showed plenty of guile as they looked to put their Matchday 20 disappointment behind them. The away side went mightily close to taking the lead midway through the second half when Boyd connected with Jean Zimmer’s cross before seeing his effort come back off the woodwork. Paderborn rallied and posted a warning when Sebastian Klaas fired inches wide of the upright. The home fans didn’t have their heads in their hands for long, however, with Heuer’s smartly struck free-kick sparking the celebrations. The side from North Rhine-Westphalia then pulled off a last-ditch goal-line clearance to ensure a major boost in their promotion push.

Match stats

Paderborn have won all four league games in 2023.
Defender Heuer scored his third goal of the season.
Kaiserslautern have lost two in a row for the first time this season.
Paderborn are the division's most dangerous team from free-kicks, having netted their fifth goal of the season from the dead-ball move.
Lukas Kwasniok's side have now won a league-best eight home games this term.
Paderborn are this season's 45-goal top scorers.

Teams

Paderborn: Huth – Heuer, Müller, Hünemeier (Schuster 69') – Hoffmeier, Muslija (Klaas 63'), Schallenberg (c), Justvan (Conteh 76'), Obermair - Leipertz (Platter 75'), Pieringer (Srbeny 63')
Unused subs: Boevink, van der Werff, Carls, Tachie
Out: Humphreys (unconfirmed), Klefisch (ankle), Rohr (suspended)
Coach: Lukas Kwasniok

Kaiserslautern: Luthe – Tomiak, Kraus, Bormuth - Zimmer (c) (de Preville 85'), Ritter (Niehues 74'), Rapp (Hanslik 85'), Zuck (Hercher 84') - Zolinski (Redondo 60'), Klement - Boyd
Unused subs: Spahic, Bünning, Durm, Opoku
Out: -
Coach: Dirk Schuster

Matchday 21 round-up:

Jahn Regensburg 1-1 Hannover
Goals: 1-0 Singh (16'), 1-1 Teuchert (88')

Looking to climb out of the relegation places they occupied ahead of kick-off, Regensburg were given the perfect start by Bayern Munich loanee Sarpreet Singh. The New Zealand international was making just his fourth appearance of an injury-hit campaign, and it was the perfect time for the 23-year-old to register his first goal of the season. It appeared the hosts would secure all three points but they were ultimately denied at the death by Cedric Tecuhert’s late equaliser.

Greuther Fürth 2-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Ache (28'), 2-0 Ache (57'), 2-1 Petersen (67')
Red card: De Wijs (90+4‘)

The Cloverleaves went into the weekend having lost just once at home all season and faced Fortuna on the back of a seven game unbeaten run at the Sportpark Ronhof. They’d also won each of their previous three games in Fürth 1-0 and took the lead less than half an hour in. Ragnar Ache provided the opener, with his fourth goal of the season putting his side on course to extend their excellent run on home soil. Ache made sure by adding a second after the break that, despite Kristoffer Petersen’s consolation, sealed a victory that closes the gap between the two sides to just six points.

Hansa Rostock 0-1 Darmstadt
Goals: 0-1 Tietz (78’)

Philipp Tietz scored the only goal of the game in the closing stages as Bundesliga 2 leaders Darmstadt consolidated top spot with a hard-fought win that leaves them 10 points clear of a non-automatic promotion place. After an evenly balanced first half in Rostock, the visitors turned on the style in the second period and created a number of presentable opportunities. However, it wasn’t until Tietz’s direct free-kick in the 78th minute that the deadlock was broken, earning Darmstadt their 14th league win of the season.

Watch: Highlights of Darmstadt's narrow win in Rostock

SCP Paderborn Paderborn - FCK Kaiserslautern Kaiserslautern

Heuer stunner downs Kaiserslauten