A header from Patric Pfeiffer keeps Darmstadt 98 on course for promotion in the 2nd Bundesliga. 1. FC Magdeburg was also responsible for the defeat by being sent off.
With the 1-0 (0-0) on Thursday evening (November 10th, 2022), the Lilien extended their top position to four points over pursuers Hamburger SV and are therefore autumn champions early. With 17 points, Magdeburg remains just one point ahead of the relegation zone.
Tietz misses the first big chance
The game had started out quite confused, Darmstadt didn’t exactly perform like a league leader when it came to football. Nevertheless, Darmstadt had the first clear chance to score in the 12th minute, but Phillip Tietz lobbed the ball past the storming Magdeburg keeper Dominik Reimann – but also past the left post.
After that, the SCM also came to some conclusions, but none of them were mandatory and did not pose any major problems for 98 goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen. Torsten Lieberknecht’s team was already celebrating in the 35th minute, but Pfeiffer’s goal was ruled out because it was offside. Curious: There was still a Magdeburg defender on the line, but since keeper Reimann had rushed so far out of his box, there were not two players behind the supposed goal scorer when the ball was passed.
Red after VAR intervention
Ten minutes after the restart, the Magdeburg seemed to bring themselves to the loser road. Cristiano Piccini lost a running duel on the defensive, then wanted to flay a free kick and held the ball on his swallow. Referee Wolfgang Haslberger first drew a yellow card, then checked the scene on VAR’s notice and came to the conclusion that a goal chance was thwarted by the intentional handball – and corrected himself to the red card (54th).
The lines initially had very little to do with the majority, there was a lack of speed, creativity and a clearly recognizable game idea. The pressure from the guests only increased from the 70th minute, but Reimann initially defended very well against Matthias Bader and Braydon Manu.
Pfeiffer too strong in the air
A standard then brought the lead. In the 78th minute, Tobias Kempe circled a free kick into the penalty area, where Pfeiffer climbed up and headed in from a good ten meters – the ball hit the right angle.
After that, Magdeburg continued to hold back, but still didn’t emit a Torgheanger. In the end, Darmstadt didn’t set off any more fireworks, but played the game confidently and in the style of a promotion candidate home.
Magdeburg in Bielefeld, Darmstadt against Fürth
At the end of the 17th matchday, Magdeburg has to play away in Bielefeld (Sunday, November 13th, 2022 at 1.30 p.m.). At the same time, Darmstadt is at home against Fürth for important points in the fight for promotion.