2nd division: HSV takes a point in Düsseldorf – SV Darmstadt consolidates first place

Yellow-Red Montero & 2 own goals

Hamburger SV missed the leap into the direct promotion places in the 2nd Bundesliga and remains without a win in the third game in a row. One day after the announced doping ban against Mario Vuskovic, the third-placed team had to settle for a 2-2 (1-2) win at fourth-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf, but maintained a seven-point lead over the Rhinelanders. Laszlo Benes (5th minute) and Christoph Klarer (75th/own goal) scored for HSV, Dawid Kownacki (21st) and Felix Klaus (28th) for Düsseldorf.

Due to Darmstadt 98’s 1-0 victory in the parallel game at 1. FC Nürnberg, Hamburg are now five points behind first place. Like HSV, Zweite 1. FC Heidenheim has collected 50 points, but could pull away from the Walter team with an away win in Kaiserslautern on Saturday evening.

In the Düsseldorf Arena, which was completely sold out for the first time since 2019 with 52,200 spectators, including around 17,000 HSV fans, the Hamburgers started with an unusual three-man chain on the defensive after the suspension of captain Sebastian Schonlau. The recently weak Javi Montero surprisingly returned to the team, with defenders Moritz Heyer and Miro Muheim taking over the other two positions. In addition, HSV coach Tim Walter hoped Sonny Kittel and Laszlo Benes, who were both new to the starting XI, would give them more impetus on the offensive.

Slovakia international Benes should quickly fulfill the hope. With his penalty kick converted early in the margin, he gave the guests the lead after a foul by Düsseldorf’s Jordy de Wijs on Robert Glatzel. The defender had come into the starting eleven for Fortuna’s defender André Hoffmann (gluteal muscle strain), who had been absent at short notice.
The hosts came back into play and Kownacki created two good chances, the scorer used the second to score his twelfth goal of the season. Despite Hamburg’s initially greater share of the game, Düsseldorf scored the opening goal before the break after strong preliminary work from Rouwen Hennings by Klaus.

In the game, which was quite balanced overall, the guests pushed hard for the equalizer and made it 2:2 through an own goal by Klarer. HSV defender Montero saw the second yellow-red card of his short career in Hamburg in the final stages.

Victory at 1. FC Nürnberg: SV Darmstadt extend their lead in the table

An own goal gave SV Darmstadt 98 the next step towards the Bundesliga and spoiled the mood for a great evening in the DFB Cup for 1. FC Nürnberg. The “club” lost five days before the quarter-finals against the Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart in the 2nd division with 0:1 (0:1) against the leader of the table. The Hessians improved to 55 points, while the FCN have to look further down.

FCN captain Christopher Schindler extended a cross from Darmstadt’s Matthias Bader into his own goal with his left foot after an unsuccessful attempt to clear the ball. The goal in the 31st minute was not apparent on Friday evening in front of 26,545 spectators in the Max Morlock Stadium. The hosts were good in the game, worked corner kick after corner kick and had good final actions by Lino Tempelmann (15th), Kwadwo Duah (19th) and Fabian Nürnberger (29th).

After the break, the guests managed the narrow lead against committed Nurembergers, who were not compelling in attack. Darmstadt goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen saved a sharp long-range shot from Johannes Geis (57′). Substitute Braydon Manu almost scored the second goal for the Hessians with a header (71st).

We’re picking up where we left off before the international break! Three points for ours #lilies #FCNSVD pic.twitter.com/xd8ZjTTeTA

— SV Darmstadt 98 (@sv98) March 31, 2023

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