Foto: SV 98 26.04.2026 / English
Bölle-Energy
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
"Awesome evening at Bölle"
Darmstadt’s first half ended with a massive blow after Patric Pfeiffer was sent off in the 44th minute, and the resulting free kick, deflected in the most unfortunate way imaginable, found its way into the net. 3-2 down. Half-time whistle. Florian Kohfeldt later described the scenario as a „worst-case scenario,“ and many spectators at the Merck Stadium wouldn’t have bet a penny on SV 98 at the break. They couldn’t be blamed. Elversberg had been too strong in the first half, the final blow of the first half was too painful, and the burden of being a man down against the Saarlanders seemed too great.
„You can crumble under those circumstances,“ Kohfeldt reflected, but he witnessed the exact opposite from his team. In the 51st minute, Hornby scored to make it 3-3, immediately putting his words from the locker room into action. „The energy was special,“ said captain Marcel Schuhen, looking back on the second half, in which all the Darmstadt players truly pulled together. Ten Darmstadt players ran, tackled, and worked tirelessly on the pitch in special jerseys – driven on by an extremely vocal crowd that contributed to a „fantastic Bölle evening,“ as Kohfeldt quite rightly described the match.
"A Darmstadt 98 performance"
Naturally, in the aftermath and analysis of the game, the first half will be viewed very critically, as Darmstadt were already leading 2-0 after 15 minutes but still went into the break trailing. However, the team’s reaction to this will be the defining story of this memorable top-of-the-table clash. „I’m incredibly proud of how the team fought back. That was a true Darmstadt 98 performance,“ summarised Paul Fernie, who added: „It’s only one point, but it’s a victory for morale.“
Despite all the pride, no one turned a blind eye to the reality of the league table, which shows SV 98 six points behind the third-place relegation playoff spot with three matchdays remaining. „The probability is minimal,“ explained Marcel Schuhen, and Kohfeldt summarised: „Promotion was never the season’s objective, but when you’ve been near the top for so long, you naturally look to see if anything is possible. And this point isn’t enough to put any more pressure on the top three.“
Foto: SV 98 
Laughing eye. Crying eye.
It’s almost paradoxical that on this evening, when virtually all their promotion hopes vanished, Darmstadt weren’t downcast. Asked about this tangle of emotions on Saturday night, head coach Kohfeldt said: „As a football fan, I’m going home happy. As the coach of Darmstadt 98, who sees the long-term perspective, I’m going home happy. But when I think only about this season, it still hurts that the gap has become too big with just one point.“
A game that perfectly illustrates a bittersweet situation. And it exemplifies what characterises SV 98 and the Böllenfalltor stadium: the strength to always get back up together. „It’s not finished.“ Realistically speaking, that no longer applies to Darmstadt’s promotion dreams. But it could also serve as a motto for the Lilies‘ next steps. Three more games await the team from southern Hesse this season. And anyone who saw the team play against SV Elversberg that evening knows: there will be no easing up. Or, to put it in the words of Paul Fernie: „We want to get as many points as possible.“
Quote of the day:
It's only one point, but it's a victory for morale.
„We want to continue this path in Karlsruhe“
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
Opposition Check: Karlsruher SC
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
Fan Information for the Karlsruhe Game
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
The largest team photo in the history of the Lilien enters its second round
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
Facts & Figures: The Top Facts before the Karlsruhe Game
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
Stolperstein tour commemorates Jewish club members
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
New breadth for the future and commemorating the past
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Secure your tickets now: Home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on general sale.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
Well-deserved victory for the Young Lilies
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
With the right mindset and positive development
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
Krombacher Böllenfalltor-GOAL-Bonus
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
„Didn’t lose our heads after falling behind early“
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: