KLittle setback, distressed faces: second division team SV Darmstadt 98 suffered a setback in the fight for promotion. The Hessians only drew 1-1 (1-0) against relegation candidate SV Sandhausen on Friday evening in their own stadium. They have taken the lead in the standings for the time being, but can still drop back to third place by Sunday.
The Lilien scored the goal in front of 11,296 spectators at Böllenfalltor Aaron Seydel (17th minute), Ahmed Kutucu (84th) equalized late for the guests from Sandhausen. The Darmstadt team took nine points from the past five games. “In the end, it was our goal to get three points. That’s why we can’t be completely satisfied. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to catch up. Unlucky, we’re not happy with that,” said goal scorer Seydel after the points were shared at Sky.
After a tough start, Seydel set the first exclamation point for the south Hesse team with a shot from the left side of the penalty area at the crossbar on the left (13′). A short time later, the striker provided the opening goal. But Sandhausen didn’t give up and secured an important point in the relegation battle with great morale. Joker Kutucu, who had only just come into play, completed safely after a cross from the right. Alois Schwartz’s team now has 30 points.
Joker Boxer bestraft 98er
Immediately after the opening goal, the hosts had an urgent phase, with Tim Skarke hitting the inside of the post (22′). After half an hour, the dominance of head coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team eased off a bit. The guests increasingly dared to launch their own offensive actions. Bashkim Ajdini, who put the ball over the bar from eleven meters, was unable to take advantage of a good chance to equalise. With a free-kick from Kempe, which just went over the crossbar, Darmstadt could have extended their lead.
The SVS continued to push for equalization in the second half. Darmstadt keeper Marcel Schuhen saved the lead with a save from a header by Dennis Diekmeier (49′). The southern Hesse got the events under control again. However, Tobias Kempe missed the second goal with a long-range shot just wide of the goal (64th) and a free kick from 25 meters out. Kutucu’s goal then shocked the Bundesliga contenders in the closing stages.
Rostock brings long-awaited home win
Promoted FC Hansa Rostock has come a step closer to remaining in the second Bundesliga. A week after the 4:3 win at FC Schalke 04, coach Jens Härtel’s team also defeated Holstein Kiel in a spectacular manner 3:2 (1:0) on Friday evening and after their third home win of the season they moved a bit from the bottom of the table away.
Pascal Breier (4th minute), John Verhoek (68th) and Hanno Behrens (81st) scored the Hansa goals in front of 21,750 spectators in the Ostseestadion, which was sold out under Corona regulations. Alexander Mühling (50th) and Calogero Riizzuto with an own goal (71st) scored for the guests from the Förde, who lost the last four games without exception.
With the recovered midfielder Simon Rhein in the starting XI, the home side got off to a good start. Breier shot determinedly after a corner and overcame Holstein goalkeeper Ioannis Gelios to score his fourth goal of the season.
Breier and his strike partner Haris Duljevic could have extended their lead in the first 20 minutes. In the 32nd minute, left winger Duljevic found his master in Kiel’s number one Gelios.
For a long time, Kiel’s attack department against the extremely compact team from Rostock had not offered similarly promising opportunities. Only in the second half was Holstein initially the better team.
The goal to make it 1-1 was particularly strange. Because Mühling headed at the goal from a short distance, defender Damian Roßbach’s attempt at clearance hit the lower edge of the crossbar, the Rostock counterattack continued – before referee Lasse Koslowski decided a goal for Kiel after a tip from the video assistant. But Hansa had the right answer ready for both the 1:1 and the 2:2 and left the battered lawn of the Ostseestadion as a deserved winner.