Home win! Bölle winning streak continues

In their home match on Matchday 15, Darmstadt initially dominated possession compared to their visitors from Karlsruhe. Despite enjoying up to 70% of the ball at times, it wasn’t until the 14th minute that the home side created their first chance: Following a free-kick whipped in from Marco Richter, Isac Lidberg got his head to the ball, but narrowly missed the near post. Shortly after, Killian Corredor also headed the ball towards goal, but his attempt also failed to find the KSC net on 18 minutes.

Up to that point, Darmstadt had been the only team with any real opportunities. In the 23rd minute, Luca Marseiler took a beautiful ball into the penalty area, but his shot was just blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner, Marseiler got a shot away, but this time his effort went well wide.

Darmstadt continued to dominate possession, and in the 33rd minute, Corredor missed the target at the far post after a cross from Sergio López. A minute later, the visitors also appeared in front of the goal, but Pinto Pedrosa’s weak effort posed no problem for Marcel Schuhen. A minute later, the 98ers again had the best chance of the match, but Bernat in the Karlsruhe goal saved Marseiler’s close-range header.

Out of nowhere, Karlsruhe took the lead in the 38th minute: Matej Maglica inadvertently deflected a cross into his own net. Darmstadt, however, remained unfazed and almost responded immediately just three minutes later, with Lidberg’s shot narrowly missing the far post. In stoppage time, Darmstadt finally got their reward with a well-deserved equaliser: After a foul on Marseiler, the home side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Richter took the free kick and curled the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1 at halftime.

After the break, the home side needed only three minutes to take the lead: Following a cross from Kai Klefisch, Corredor’s initial shot was blocked, but the ball fell perfectly for Lidberg, who calmly slotted home to make it 2-1.

Just as in the first half, Darmstadt conceded very little, yet the visitors still managed to equalise: Schleusener suddenly found himself one-on-one with Schuhen and gave the goalkeeper no chance on the hour mark. But even this goal didn’t faze the 98ers, and just three minutes later Maglica headed in a free kick from Richter to put the South Hessians back in front.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Darmstadt came close to making it 4-2: Bernat parried a Marseiler shot, Lidberg got to the rebound, but the ball ended up in the goalkeeper’s arms.

In the final quarter of an hour, the visitors tried to force an equaliser, which repeatedly opened up opportunities for Darmstadt to counter-attack. In the 87th minute, Lidberg again narrowly missed making it 4-2 when his shot from 16 meters went just wide. Despite all the visitors‘ efforts, Darmstadt had the better chances during this period, but no further goals were scored – and so Darmstadt celebrated a narrow home victory.