Analysis of the 4-0 win against Kaiserslautern: A superb game from start to finish

In this analysis, we’re taking the liberty of expanding this category to include the „Moment of the Evening.“ Of course, the moment we’ve chosen this time originated in the 29th minute when Fynn Lakenmacher clinically converted a cross from Fraser Hornby, making it 2-0 at the perfect moment. His first goal of the season crowned his first start for the team.

Even more remarkable, however, was a scene just minutes after the final whistle on Saturday evening, when Florian Kohfeldt gathered his team in a circle on the pitch of the Merck Stadium Böllenfalltor. Normally, the head coach gives a short speech here after every match – Paul Fernie has already done so this season, as has captain Marcel Schuhen. But Kohfeldt, as he revealed after the final whistle, had never singled out a player to praise individually in front of the team so soon after the game. He did just that with Fynn Lakenmacher. “Because I was impressed by what he delivered in terms of his sporting achievements. But even more so by how he drew this strength from the last few months in which he didn’t play much,” Kohfeldt explained.

A scene that perfectly encapsulates the team spirit of SV Darmstadt 98. Everyone is important, everyone will get their moments. Just like Lakenmacher, who impressively compensated for the injury-related absence of Isac Lidberg. A player who, due to the strong form of Hornby and Lidberg, accumulated only a few minutes this season, but who never gave up, continuing to give his all in every training session and was rewarded for it. No wonder, then, that everyone in the team visibly and sincerely celebrated with him.

Energy. Cohesion. Body language. Florian Kohfeldt addressed all these points at the pre-match press conference. A football team isn’t just about tactics, he said on Friday afternoon (February 6th). „Energy, cohesion, and body language are sometimes more important than tactics,“ the SV 98 head coach explained a day later in the catacombs of the Merck Stadium. Kohfeldt continued: „And we brought all of that to the pitch today, which is why it was a convincing victory and a convincing performance from my team.“ From the first minute, his men showed the necessary will and incredible passion. The blue-and-white Darmstadt players never once allowed any doubt to arise that they wouldn’t leave the pitch as winners on this Saturday evening. And on top of all that, they also played very attractive football, which even impressed the visiting coach. „Everything clicked for them,“ Torsten Lieberknecht had to admit. Both the ball handling and the team spirit and mentality on the pitch, everything was just right for the Lilies.

A match lasts 90 minutes. That sounds obvious. But especially in this tightly contested 2. Bundesliga, it’s no small feat to maintain focus for the entire duration of the game. In recent weeks, Darmstadt have repeatedly experienced difficult phases in their play. Phases where they allowed the opponent back into the game – like in the second half in Paderborn and Bochum. The first 30 or 35 minutes of the home game against Nürnberg also fell into this category. Against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, however, they played consistently and with concentration for the full 90 minutes, which Kohfeldt subsequently described as „extremely mature.“ „I was particularly pleased with the second half,“ said the head coach. Even with a 3-0 lead, the team from southern Hesse didn’t let up. „We controlled the second half, but we didn’t become passive – unlike in Paderborn or Bochum. Instead, we kept pushing forward,“ Kohfeldt praised.

Böllenfalltor Fortress. „The game plan was to show that we’re a force to be reckoned with at home,“ Kai Klefisch emphasised in the mixed zone after the 4-0 victory against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Mission accomplished, we say. Under the four floodlights at Böllenfalltor, the Lilies secured their eleventh win of the season, their eighth victory in front of their home crowd. SV Darmstadt 98 remains undefeated at their own stadium this season. With 27 home points already collected, being the best home team in the league is therefore only logical. Klefisch: „We’ve remained unbeaten at home; it couldn’t be better.“

Is there really anything to criticise?! Anyone who has followed our analyses closely throughout the season here at www.sv98.de knows that we are very self-critical in this category and address mistakes and weaknesses openly and honestly. Of course, we could start nitpicking now, despite the clear 4-0 victory. But we’ll refrain from doing that here and instead look forward to the away game next Saturday (February 14th/1pm) against Eintracht Braunschweig. We conclude this category with the words of Kai Klefisch, which also serve as our quote of the day: