FC Kaiserslautern’s slim promotion hopes all but vanished after a 3-0 loss to Holstein Kiel in northern Germany on Friday night. ()

1.FC Kaiserslautern’s faint promotion hopes all but evaporated with a 3-0 shellacking by Holstein Kiel in northern Germany on Friday evening.

The result continued the Red Devils’ struggles on the road, where they have recorded just 15 points over 15 matches with a goal differential of negative-11.

A 26-minute span in the first half saw Kiel, which has flirted with the relegation zone this season and now sits in 11th place, put three past FCK goalkeeper Julian Krahl.

Umut Tohumcu started the scoring in the 16th minute on a counter, with the midfielder thumping a wonder strike from 22 yards out to give the Storks the lead. Phil Harres doubled it in 36th minute, and in the 40th minute, David Zec headed in a ball from short distance after a corner deflected off Harres.

With the loss, FCK stays in seventh place on 46 points, nine points behind Elversberg in the promotion playoff spot with four matches remaining. The Red Devils return to action April 24 at home against relegation-threatened Eintracht Braunschweig.