Darmstadt 98 has ended its earnings crisis and is on course for promotion in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team defeated 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2-0 (2-0) after two defeats and leads the table nine games before the end of the season with 52 points ahead of 1. FC Heidenheim (50) and Hamburger SV (49) on.
Filip Stojilkovic (36′, 43′) scored for the lilies before the break in front of 17,650 spectators. For Kaiserslautern, the dream of promotion should have ended after just one win in the past six games.
Darmstadt initially struggled without top striker Mathias Honsak. A Phillip Tietz header didn’t cause any problems for visiting goalkeeper Andreas Luthe (11′). On the other hand, Marlon Ritter missed the great opportunity to lead the Red Devils with a header (24th).
The hosts then increased the pressure. With a bit of luck, Stojilkovic headed in a corner from Fabian Holland. The striker then tied the brace after a nice pass from Tietz.
After the change Darmstadt stayed on the trigger. Tietz narrowly missed (49′), Braydon Manu also missed in a promising position (64′).