1. FC Kaiserslautern climbed to the top of the second division table Friday night with a 1-1 tie against SV Elversberg.

But the stay on the pinnacle might be short-lived, depending on the rest of the weekend games.

FCK coach Markus Anfang’s starting lineup was the same as for last week’s game against Regensburg. Keeper Julian Krahl, who had labored with an injury during the week, was between the posts for the Red Devils, in front of 49,068 spectators at a sold-out Fritz Walter Stadium.

Elversberg had the first scoring chance of the game in the 14^th minute, but Tom Zimmerschied’s shot missed the mark.

Daniel Hanslik had the chance to put the Red Devils on the board five minutes later, but his shot hit the underside of the crossbar.

Krahl kept the slate clean, making a good save on an Elversberg shot from about 18 yards out.

Hanslik had another chance to score before Ragnar Ache finally put Kaiserslautern in the lead with his 13^th goal of the season. Taking a pass from Hanslik in the 41^st minute, the FCK striker circled the ball into the goal from about 18 yards out.

After the intermission it was Julian Krah’s time to shine. The Kaiserslautern keeper stopped a number of Elversberg scoring possibilities, saving his team’s lead.

But the Red Devils’ luck ran out in the 75^th minute when Muhammed Damar took advantage of confusion between Krahl and Maximilian Bauer, lifting the ball over the FCK keeper for the tying 1-1.

The rest of the game was a defensive battle with neither team having much luck on offense.

The tie put the Red Devils on top of the Bundesliga 2 table for the moment but if luck is against them, they could find themselves in fifth place by the time the weekend games are over.

In a tight second division race, Hamburg, Magdeburg, Paderborn and Cologne could all pass FCK with wins. Elversberg remains in sixth place.

The Red Devils have a tough match next Saturday in Paderborn, and another one at home on March 29, against Düsseldorf.

K-town Sports