In the early Sunday game of the Bundesliga, Darmstadt 98 finally celebrated its first win of the season on matchday 6. Against Werder Bremen, the promoted team never left any doubts about the winner of the day in the 4:2 (2:0) victory.
The winner’s goals were scored by Matthias Bader (5th), Tim Skarke (25th), Marvin Mehlem (50th) and Tobias Kempe (hand penalty, 62nd). Werder only managed cosmetic results in the final phase thanks to Olivier Deman (70th) and Milos Veljkovic (79th). With the victory, Darmstadt handed over the red lantern of the Bundesliga table to FSV Mainz 05. Werder slipped to twelfth place with another six points.
“It was an absolutely deserved defeat. If you only start playing football after the 1:4, you deserve it,” said Werder striker Marvin Ducksch on DAZN: “So it will be difficult to get points.”
98 against the trauma Gladbach
At SV Darmstadt, the trauma of the last home game was of course still with us: against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the promoted team led 3-0 straight after the international break and ultimately only played a draw (3-3). It was the only point the 98ers had fought for so far, and they now had a clear mission against Werder Bremen: a three-pointer was needed.
Werder is overrun
And coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team got off to a flying start: As against Gladbach, the opponent wasn’t just put under pressure in the first few minutes – they were literally overrun.
After less than five minutes, the Lilies were rewarded for their courageous start: Marvin Mehlem had broken through on the left and sent a sensitive cross from the baseline to the far post, where Matthias Bader came rushing in from the backcourt. The midfielder finished at full speed from eight meters to make it 1-0.
Great atmosphere at the Böllenfalltor
Darmstadt had its important early lead, the Böllenfalltor almost seemed to burst with celebration. Especially since Darmstadt stuck with it. Werder had to do their best not to completely lose track of the situation in the face of the opposition’s constant pressure. And after 25 minutes we could celebrate a second time: Tim Skarke had been sent on the left wing by Tobias Kempe.
We headed towards the penalty area at full speed and Skarke’s subsequent shot hit at a right angle from 14 meters – a dream goal to make it 2-0. It was a comfortable half-time lead, which was also completely fine at the height. The question remained: Where was Werder, who could actually have appeared confident – with their recent 2-1 win against 1. FC Köln under their belt? Until then, nothing had come from Ole Werner’s team. Bremen didn’t manage a single shot on goal in 45 minutes.
3-0 after the change decides
But of course: Darmstadt was warned. Not even a 3-0 half-time lead against Gladbach was enough to win a fortnight ago. This time, however, the 98ers scored another important blow right after the break: Lieberknecht’s team increased the lead to 3-0 (50th). And that’s how it happened: Werder’s Amos Pieper made a hair-raising bad pass in the build-up, which Bader intercepted. The scorer to make it 1-0 was served by Mehlem, who after two short steps overcame Werder’s keeper Jiri Pavlenka to score the next goal.
And it only took a good ten minutes before the Werder goal rang again: Christian Groß had reached out to help in his own penalty area. Tobias Kempe accepted the penalty and made it 4-0 (62′).
Werder suddenly plays along and shortens
In the final phase, Werder finally woke up and played along in the final minutes. And it actually quickly became apparent what would have been possible for the Hanseatic people today if they had tackled things beforehand. Olivier Deman (70th) and Milos Veljkovic (79th) reduced the score to 4:2 and almost sent Darmstadt reeling again. However, the Bremen team couldn’t manage any more.
Darmstadt in Augsburg, Bremen welcomes Hoffenheim
The Lilies will meet FC Augsburg on matchday 7 (Saturday, October 7th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). A few hours later, Werder host TSG in the evening game (6.30 p.m.).