With great morale and outstanding comeback qualities, Darmstadt 98 got a surprising away point at the end of the Bundesliga season.
Despite being behind three times, the Lilies fought to win 3:3 (1:2) at TSG Hoffenheim, but have now been waiting for a win for nine games. With ten points on the side, the fight to stay in the league becomes a Herculean task for the promoted team.
Luca Pfeiffer (23rd) and Tim Skarke (57th/85th) scored for the guests. Hoffenheim (24 points) suffered a setback in the fight for a place in the European Cup. Ihlas Bebou’s brace (26th/66th) and Andrej Kramaric’s goal (14th, penalty) didn’t change that.
“It’s annoying that we didn’t get enough points from many games that were close,” said Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht shortly before kick-off on Sky: “We want to remain courageous and have a good structure. Our declared goal is three Points.”
In front of just 18,125 spectators, the hosts pushed for a quick lead. Things got tricky several times in the Darmstadt penalty area. Kramaric missed the best chance in the early stages with his header (8th).
Shortly afterwards, the Croatian did better from eleven meters. The penalty was preceded by a chain of errors from Darmstadt: First, goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen came out of his box overzealously, then Klaus Gjasula fouled TSG attacker Bebou.
The weakened lilies were only shocked for a short time. Eight professionals were missing: Fabian Holland, Fraser Hornby, Braydon Manu, Marvin Mehlem, Fabian Nürnberger, Aaron Seydel, Oscar Vilhelmsson and Christoph Zimmermann. After a strong combination, Pfeifer still scored the equalizer.
Just 67 seconds later, Grischa Prömel should have put Hoffenheim back in the lead, but the midfielder pushed the ball past from close range. Despite this moment of shock, the Darmstadt team played well – until they suffered another defensive blackout: Bebou thanked them.
But the Hessians also dealt with the new blow in the neck well and the equalizer was in the air. The Hoffenheim team, who had to make do without Wout Weghorst and the long-term injured Mergim Berisha, Dennis Geiger and Marco John, allowed a lot. It wasn’t until the end of the first half that the Kraichgauers took control again.
In the second half, the home team again acted far too passively, Skarke punished this after Pfeifer’s preparatory work. Bebou gave TSG the lead for the third time with his second goal. John Anthony Brooks missed the great chance to make a preliminary decision (80th). Before the score was 3-3, Ozan Kabak made a disastrous bad pass.