Darmstadt 98 has extended the table lead in the 2nd Bundesliga.
The team coached by Torsten Lieberknecht, who have been unbeaten for 17 competitive games, won 1-0 (0-0) at 1. FC Magdeburg on Thursday at the end of the 16th matchday. The lilies are definitely going into the World Cup break as the front runners and autumn champions.
Central defender Patric Pfeiffer (78th) scored the decisive goal for Darmstadt, who suffered their only defeat on the first day of the game against Jahn Regensburg. Magdeburg’s Cristiano Piccini saw a controversial red card for an emergency brake after video evidence (54th). With 35 points, the Lieberknecht team is now four points ahead of Hamburger SV. The hosts slip to 14th place (18 points).
Darmstadt started the game with the self-image of a leader. The Hessians combined well into the last third, but the home side also played along happily. After ten minutes, goalscorer Phillip Tietz missed the visitors’ lead. A little later, Magdeburg’s Connor Krempicki missed from a good position (13′).
After the break, Piccini stopped the ball with his hand before Marvin Mehlem broke through. Referee Wolfgang Halsberger initially gave a yellow card, but after studying the television pictures he officially rated the offense as an “emergency brake” because of preventing a goal chance and decided on red. Darmstadt then forced the goal with a majority: Pfeiffer headed in after a corner. Magdeburg responded with furious attacks.