SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team lost their home game against FC Turabdin-Babylon 3-2 despite leading 1-0 at the break. After a comfortable 2-0 lead, the Lilies were reduced to ten men following a red card and ultimately let the game slip away.
Darmstadt initially needed a few minutes to find their rhythm. In a somewhat unsettled opening phase, the U21s made a few simple technical errors in their build-up play. However, as the game progressed, Patrick Kurt’s team gradually took control and put increasing pressure on the Pohlheim side.
In the 19th minute, SV 98 finally rewarded themselves for their efforts: Yannick Stark opened up the visitors‘ defence with a perfectly weighted through ball to Kelvin Kunstmann. Kunstmann broke through to the byline and squared the ball to Vincent Hofer, who had a simple tap-in from close range to make it 1-0. Darmstadt continued to dominate, maintaining a solid defence and preventing Pohlheim from developing any meaningful attacks.
Even after the break, Darmstadt remained firmly in control. The U21s spent almost all their time in the visitors‘ half and created a number of good chances. In the 70th minute, they duly made it 2-0: After a pass from Marcello Maier, Vincent Hofer was once again on hand to slot home from close range for his second goal of the day.
Just a few minutes later, however, the game took a completely different turn. Following a scuffle, Milian Herbst received a second yellow card in the 76th minute. Playing with ten men, Darmstadt increasingly lost control of what had been a confidently managed match. Pohlheim capitalised on the situation: Brian Mukasa pulled one back with a long-range shot in the 80th minute, making it 2-1, before Johannes Toprak equalised just three minutes later with a header from a corner.
In stoppage time, things got even worse for Darmstadt. After losing possession near the halfway line, the visitors quickly countered, with Sho Sannomiya scoring in stoppage time (90+1′) to make it 3-2. This meant the U21s had largely controlled the game and, within a matter of minutes, let it slip away.
Head coach Patrick Kurt commented on the late turnaround: “Today, disappointment over this completely unnecessary defeat is overwhelming. Until the sending-off, we were the superior team and dominated the game in all phases. However, we also have to be honest and acknowledge that this was the second avoidable red card in this midweek fixture. We will address this clearly and then prepare for the challenging match in Stadtallendorf.”
After their first home defeat, Darmstadt are in ninth place with 15 points. On Saturday (September 19th, 2pm), Darmstadt will travel to Stadtallendorf. The hosts are currently in third place with 17 points after nine matches.
Line-Up: Ebert – Kunstmann (Volkmann, 62′), Keranovic (Rauch, 34′), Hofer (Carolei, 76′), Dos Santos Pereira, Held (Maier, 62′), Ballmert, Stark, Hartelt (Meier, 87′), Pfister, Herbst
Construction of the new functional building at the Merck youth performance center of SV Darmstadt 98 is complete. With the two-story modular building, the club is improving the infrastructure for its youth players, coaches, and staff at Kastanienallee.
Good news for everyone who wants to participate in the Lilien Team Marathon – presented by CRAFT DA: The registration deadline has been extended to September 20, 2026. The second edition of the running event, organised by SV Darmstadt 98, will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026. At the Lilien Team Marathon, running enthusiasts and beginners alike can complete a marathon or half-marathon distance together with friends, colleagues, or family.
This season, Darmstadt 98 fans will once again be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by their team. In addition to the joy and excitement of celebrating each goal, supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pilsner for every goal scored at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.
SV 98 finally secured their long-awaited victory on Friday evening. While the team from southern Hesse didn't exactly put on a dazzling display of football against Arminia Bielefeld, their pragmatic approach and strong mentality earned them three points. It was a success whose foundation had been laid in the preceding days.
The long-awaited three points are finally here! In a hard-fought but also disjointed match on Friday evening, Darmstadt showed character and didn't let setbacks get them down, even if not everything went perfectly during the 90 minutes. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
A crucial home win for Darmstadt! SV Darmstadt 98 defeated Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 (1-0). Lee (3') gave the home side an early lead, and after the visitors from East Westphalia equalised, Smit (86') sealed the victory with a penalty.
Darmstadt host Arminia Bielefeld. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the defeat in Kaiserslautern. Carlo Sickinger starts in place of Hiroki Akiyama, who is out with a thigh injury. Returning player Marco Richter replaces Lars Kehl in the starting eleven, and Hojae Lee starts instead of Lance Duijvestijn.
Floodlight Friday! On Friday evening (Sept. 11, 6:30pm), SV 98 takes on Arminia Bielefeld in Matchday 5 action. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match? And where can you follow the game? As always, we’ve gathered all the key information about the match against Bielefeld for you in "Matchday Guide."
For the upcoming home match on Friday (September 11, 2026, at 6:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information. Starting this season, we are introducing dedicated entrances for women at the west side of the stadium. Additionally, there is a "Bölle Bande" family entrance offering easier access at Karl-Hess-Platz.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team won 3-1 (0-0) against SV Rot-Weiss Walldorf. In a heated match, Patrick Kurt's team prevailed and remain undefeated at home.
Ahead of the first evening match of the season against Arminia Bielefeld (September 11th, 6:30pm), our head coach Florian Kohfeldt spoke about returning player Marco Richter, the bond between fans and the team, and the upcoming opponent. We've summarised the most important points for you here:
Arminia Bielefeld hosted SV Arminia Hannover and delivered a performance that remains unmatched to this day. DSC Bielefeld swept aside their opponents with an 11-0 victory. It was not only an extraordinary rout, but also remains the biggest win in the history of the 2. Bundesliga.