Table leaders Darmstadt 98 lost feathers in the 2nd Bundesliga for the second time in a row. Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team had to settle for a 1-1 (0-0) lead at FC St. Pauli.
The point losses of Hesse, who have been unbeaten in 13 matches in the league, play into the hands of rivals SC Paderborn and Hamburger SV before their duel on Sunday (1.30 p.m. / Sky): The SCP could outperform Darmstadt, the Rothosen could get to one point approach. Pauli is stuck in midfield.
Frank Ronstadt, trained at HSV, put the guests ahead with a dream goal (60′), St. Pauli countered nine minutes later through Lukas Daschner.
In front of 29,546 spectators at the Millerntor, Darmstadt made the first statement. After a free kick from Tobias Kempe, Pauli defender Betim Fazliji deflected the ball to the crossbar (8′).
As a result, however, Hamburg gained a significant advantage. Probably the best chance before the change of sides was given by Jackson Irvine (39th), who did not finish decisively enough against Lilien goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen.
After the change of sides, the game was completely open. Ronstadt pulled in irresistibly from the left wing after just under an hour, rounded two defenders and completed the corner from the inside left position. Darmstadt stayed tuned: Phillip Tietz forced Nikola Vasilj to make a brilliant save (63′).
St. Pauli, for their part, radiated a lot of offensive power and literally forced the equalizer. Daschner also headed the crossbar in the 86th minute.