In a game with two different halves, SC Paderborn fought for a point against SV Darmstadt 98. Both teams separated 2:2 (0:2) at the start of the 17th matchday in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Marco Richter (4th) and Killian Corredor (37th) gave SV Darmstadt, who appeared ripped off in the first half, the lead. The SCP turned things up in the second half and equalized through Mika Baur (55th) and a hand penalty from Sebastian Klaas (85th).
Darmstadt failed to distance the SCP in the table and remains in third place. Paderborn is in fourth place with the same points, but with a worse goal difference.
Darmstadt caught Paderborn ice cold
The SCP started the game energetically – and was caught cold after four minutes. Darmstadt’s Sergio López ran past a long ball from Kai Klefisch just in front of the baseline and crossed directly into the penalty area. There Isac Lidberg cleverly passed the ball to Richter, whose deflected shot hit the bottom right corner.
The SV Darmstadt players celebrate after the opening goal against Paderborn
Paderborn was visibly knocked out after conceding a goal. Darmstadt retreated deep into their own half and kept the SCP away from their own goal. If the Paderborn team got in front of the Darmstadt box, they played it too awkwardly.
Corredor increased before the break
The guests showed what efficiency looks like in the 37th minute. The SCP did not get the ball cleared at its own corner flag. The ball ended up in a detour at Richter, whose shot was blocked by Raphael Obermaier. However, Corredor was right and made it 2-0 for Darmstadt.
The SCP started again in the following minutes, but still went into the break with a two-goal deficit.
Baur brings SCP back into play
SCP coach Ralf Kettemann reacted and brought Steffen Tigges, a big, powerful striker, into the game in the second half. But it was the little, lively Baur who brought new hope to Paderborn. After Laurin Curda’s clearance, Baur circled the ball from 20 meters past many of Darmstadt’s defensive legs and into the bottom right corner (55′).
The goal was a well-deserved reward for a clear improvement in Paderborn’s performance after the break. The East Westphalians now acted much more decisively, aggressively and purposefully. But Darmstadt also remained extremely dangerous. In the 64th minute, the SCP defense made a desperate but ultimately successful save against Luca Marseiler and Lidberg.
Paderborn runs – and rewards itself
Otherwise only the SCP played in the second half. The Paderborn team repeatedly tried to get to the baseline and then put the ball in the middle. Darmstadt hardly managed to get a release, but Paderborn didn’t manage to get the ball into the goal in a really dangerous way.
Paderborn’s Laurin Curda (l.) is pursued by Hiroki Akiyama.
Ten minutes before the end things got tricky in the Darmstadt penalty area. Nick Bätzner headed Darmstadt’s Kai Klefisch from close range onto the arm. Referee Bastian Dankert initially allowed the game to continue, but a few moments later video assistant Daniel Schlager asked him to go to the screen. And according to the pictures, Dankert decided on a penalty for the SCP. Klaas stepped up and made it 2-2. (85.).
Even in the final minutes only Paderborn played. Deep into stoppage time, Obermaier still had a chance to score the winning goal with a free kick, but he aimed too high.
Paderborn in Kiel, Darmstadt in Bochum
After the winter break, Paderborn will be a guest at Holstein Kiel (January 18, 2025, 1:30 p.m.). SV Darmstadt visited VfL Bochum the day before (1:30 p.m.).