Darmstadt 98 rewarded itself for an offensive game against Karlsruher SC and is well into the promotion race in the 2nd Bundesliga.
The Darmstadt team won the duel against KSC 3-2 on matchday 15 and climbed to third place in the table with 29 points. On Sunday, however, Hertha BSC could overtake bottom club FC Magdeburg with a big win.
The Karlsruhe team, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat in a row and slipped to eighth place.
The KSC took the lead at the Böllenfalltor in the 38th minute with an own goal from Matej Maglica. Marco Richter equalized just before halftime (45+1). Isac Lidberg gave Darmstadt the lead straight after the restart (48th). Fabian Schleusener (60th) equalized for KSC before Maglica (63rd) hit the right goal this time and put Darmstadt in the lead again.
Darmstadt played with a lot of speed from the start and were overwhelmingly superior in the first half hour. The Lilies had 70 percent possession of the ball, but were very careless with their numerous chances. Lidberg put a header completely free next to the post (14th), Luca Marseiler failed to put the ball in the goal after a corner from close range.
Lucky lead for the KSC, Richter with a magic free kick
As is so often the case, one action on the other side was enough to turn the game on its head: Karlsruhe’s advanced full-back Sebastian Jung headed a free-kick cross towards the six-yard box. Maglica intervened, but caught the ball so badly that it flew off the inside post and into his own goal.
Darmstadt remained undeterred – and rewarded itself shortly before the half-time whistle: Richter curled a free kick directly from the edge of the penalty area over the wall and into the corner.
Darmstadt was still wide awake after the restart – in contrast to Karlsruhe: David Herold cleared a cross right in front of Lidberg’s feet. Darmstadt’s goalgetter had free rein and shot into the far corner – the Swede’s 25th goal in his 42nd second division game.
Maglica first own goal scorer, then match winner
The game continued to be very entertaining even after the break because the defensive lines on both sides were not in the picture: Sergio Lopez messed up the ball after a long ball, Marvin Wanitzek immediately switched gears and sent Schleusener into the lane – the KSC surprisingly managed to equalize again.
Less than three minutes later, it was the Karlsruhe defense that missed the assignment after a free kick: Maglica screwed his way up and nodded in from close range – at the latest he had forgotten his unfortunate own goal.
Lidberg misses chances for two games
Darmstadt stayed on the trigger – and was unlucky: Meiko Waschenbach brought down Kilian Corredor in the penalty area, the scene wasn’t even checked (72nd). Lidberg had the decision in hand three minutes later, KSC keeper Hans-Christian Bernat saved.
The guests held off again in the final phase. The game remained exciting, also because Darmstadt failed to put the lid on it. Lidberg had another chance on a counterattack three minutes before the end, but curled the ball just past the far post.
There were more than nine minutes of injury time, KSC actually had the chance to equalize with the last action of the game, keeper Marcel Schuhen wiped Herold’s shot over the crossbar.
Darmstadt in Münster, Karlsruhe against Paderborn
Karlsruhe welcomes SC Paderborn on matchday 16 (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.). Darmstadt will be a guest at Preußen Münster on Sunday afternoon (1:30 p.m.).