After failing to make it off the bench for Fortuna in their midweek DFB Pokal win over 1860 Munich, Kruse was promoted to the starting lineup and looked lively throughout the contest.

With Fortuna leading 3-2, he had a chance to get himself on the scoresheet after seeing himself one-on-one with the keeper but opted to lay the ball off to Maximilian Beister who tucked away the first of his two goals.

The win sends Fortuna Dusseldorf to the summit of 2.Bundesliga with Gruether Furth playing tonight. The second placed side host TSV Eintracht in a clash that could see them leapfrog Fortuna into top spot.

In the Championship, Patrick Kisnorbo was introduced after 32 minutes following an injury to Irish defender Darren O’Dea. Leeds trailed 1-0 after seventeen minutes and were heading for a home loss thanks to some brilliant goalkeeping from David Marshall.

The Cardiff keeper thwarted Leeds on a number of occasions but Cardiff’s efforts came undone in the 73rd minute as Robert Snodgrass poked the ball home.

Socceroo Michael Zullo played the entire game while Tommy Oar and Adam Sarota were unused substitutes in FC Utrecht's 3-1 loss away to NEC. Utrecht is without a win in three games following this result and sits only three points clear of the drop zone.

Elsewhere in the Eredivisie, AZ Alkmaar extended their lead at the top of the table thanks to a 89th minute winner from Adam Maher. The league leaders were still without injured Socceroo Brett Holman while James Holland was absent from the match day squad.

Socceroo defender Luke Wilkshire and his Dinamo Moscow side proved too strong for cellar-dwellers Tom’ Tomsk, winning 2-0 at the Stadion Trud.

In Croatia, Both Steve Lustica and Ljubo Milicevic were absent from Hajduk Split’s 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Inter Zapresic. After failing to see victory, Hajduk now trail league leaders Dinamo Zagreb by seven points.

In the Danish Superliga, Brent McGrath was an unused substitute in Brondby’s 1-1 draw against Aalborg. Brondby are now only two points clear of the relegation zone.

Over in Greece, Nathan Burns was not in AEK Athens squad that cruised to a 3-0 win against twelfth place Aris.

In the K-League, Socceroo defender Sasa Ognenovski bagged his fourth goal of the season but it could stop Seongnam from losing 3-1 to second place Pohang Steelers.

After a scoreless first half, Pohang had taken the lead through Mu-Yeol Ko in the 56th minute but Sasa Ognenovski equalised from the spot two minutes later. Two goals in the space of two minutes with twenty minutes remaining secured all three points for Pohang.

A second half hat trick from Seoul striker Dae-Sung Ha condemned Luke DeVere and his Gyeongnam side to a 3-0 home defeat. The former Brisbane started the match but could not help prevent his side from experiencing their first defeat in four games.

Former Adelaide and Sydney defender Iain Fyfe started the match on the bench for Busan I’Park in their 2-0 victory over Gangwon.

Robert Cornthwaite did not feature in the Chunnam squad that faced Jeonbuk Motors. Fresh after booking their spot in the ACL final, Jeonbuk held the Dragons to a 1-1 draw. Jeonbuk remain top while Chunnam sit in seventh place.

Mark Milligan played the entire game as JEF United suffered another defeat, this time at home to Tokushima Vortis. United have now gone five straight games without a win, their last win coming on October 2, away to Ehime.

Jade North was not in the FC Tokyo squad that was held to a 1-1 draw by Tokyo Verdy in front of 35,911 spectators at the Ajinomoto Stadium. Tokyo still occupy top spot and are four points clear of second place Sagan Tosu.

In Cyprus, Danny Invincibile was a 82nd minute substitute in Ermis’ goalless draw at home to league leader AEL.