Karlsruhe beat Schalke 2-0 on Saturday to continue their unexpected run in the Bundesliga with Christian Timm scoring in the 69th and 83rd minutes.
Newly promoted Karlsruhe knocked Schalke off the second spot in the German first division, with Schalke dropping to fifth after their first league defeat.
In a lackluster match, Karlsruhe backed up their solid defense with two swift shifts into attack.
PHOTO: AFP
For the second goal, three quick passes left Timm clear to put a low shot past Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Schalke lost for the first time at home since a 2-0 defeat against Hamburg on March 2.
VfB Stuttgart, the defending champions, were plunged deeper into a crisis when two goals by Szabolics Huszti and an early ejection gave Hannover a 2-0 win.
US defender Steve Cherundolo's cross set up Huszti to head in a goal in the 52nd minute to seal Hannover's win.
Huszti converted an eighth-minute penalty for Hannover, which proved double costly to Stuttgart. Fernando Meira had blocked an attempt with his upper arm and was both sent off and called for the penalty.
Rafael van der Vaart tied a Hamburg record in his club's 1-0 victory at Arminia Bielefeld. He equaled the feat of Uwe Seeler, one of Germany's greatest players, by scoring in seven straight games.
The Dutchman volleyed in a long pass on the run in the 49th to match Seeler's record.
Bremen needed the help of two ejections of MSV Duisburg's players to pull off a 3-1 win.
Just seconds after Duisburg's Pablo Caceres was sent off for a foul on Daniel Jensen, Boubacar Sanogo put Bremen 2-1 ahead. Despite a red card for Blagoy Georgiew, Bremen struggled to wrap up the game until Leon Andreasen scored in the 86th minute.
Hertha Berlin and last-placed Energie Cottbus also drew 0-0, while VfL Wolfsburg edged Hansa Rostock 1-0.
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