A convincing run to the round of 16

Darmstadt started the cup match against Schalke with great momentum, enjoying up to 70 percent possession at times. The first chances of the game also fell to the home side. After nine minutes, Fraser Hornby fired a shot from outside the box, but his effort sailed well over the bar. He had another opportunity shortly after – following excellent build-up play by Luca Marseiler, Hornby got a shot away, but his powerful attempt was too central, allowing Schalke goalkeeper Karius to just parry it away.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the visitors had their best chance of the game so far: Marcel Schuhen reacted lightning-fast to Karaman’s close-range effort, tipping the ball over the bar with a superb reflex save on 22 minutes. A minute later, Darmstadt capitalised on a counter-attack to take the lead: Isac Lidberg passed the ball to Hiroki Akiyama, whose initial shot was blocked, but the Japanese midfielder placed the rebound perfectly just inside the post.

As a result, SV 98 pressed for a second goal: First, Karius just managed to tip a Marseiler effort from his own half over the bar after 26 minutes, then a header from Matej Maglica was cleared off the line, 60 seconds later. Just a minute later, the defender was again unmarked after a corner and headed the ball into the far corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance just before the half hour mark.

Four minutes after the 2-0, Lidberg had a chance to make it 3-0: After a long ball, he ran clear on goal but put his shot just wide of the far post. The 98ers continued to dominate and barely allowed the visitors any shots on goal. Consequently, the teams went into the break with SVD holding a two-goal lead.

After the break, Darmstadt needed no time to get going and increased their lead to 3-0 after just three minutes: Following a nice combination between Hornby and Marseiler, the Scot found himself free on goal and calmly slotted the ball low into the corner. The next shot on goal also came from Darmstadt’s number 9, Hornby unleashing a long-range effort that forced Karius into a brilliant save with his precise low strike with 56 minutes played. Shortly afterwards, the visitors finally threatened again, but Sylla’s shot flew wide in the 58th minute.

Darmstadt simply kept pressing and combined to score their fourth goal: Marseiler played the ball into the path of the recently substituted Bartosz Bialek, who remained composed in front of Karius and fired home the ball off the inside of the post to make it 4-0 on the hour.

After that, Darmstadt largely controlled the game, with clear-cut chances few and far between for either side. It wasn’t until the 73rd minute that Schalke managed their next shot on goal, their best opportunity of the match, but Bachmann squandered a clear chance in front of Schuhen.

In the closing minutes, Darmstadt comfortably saw out the game and ultimately secured a well-deserved place in the DFB Cup round of 16.