Home win! Impressive winning streak continues at Bölle

The home game against Fortuna Düsseldorf was a high-tempo affair from the outset. Initially, the visitors had slightly more attacking opportunities, but Darmstadt were clinical and took the lead with their first chance: After a long ball, Isac Lidberg held off his marker strongly, laid the ball off to Marco Richter, whose precise cross was headed home by the stooping Fraser Hornby on 7 minutes.

Darmstadt’s lead didn’t last long, however. Just five minutes later, de Wijs headed in a corner to equalise at 1-1. The match remained intense and fast-paced. Both teams repeatedly created promising positions, though initially without seriously testing the goalkeepers. It wasn’t until the 40th minute that Darmstadt had another clear-cut chance: Lidberg cleverly laid the ball off to Richter in the penalty area, but he opened his body too much and lifted it over the bar.

In first-half stoppage time, Fortuna Düsseldorf had several more chances, but Marcel Schuhen was equal to the task, denying both Appelkamp in the first minute and Itten’s header from the ensuing corner. The hard-fought match went into halftime with the score at 1-1.

Both teams maintained a high tempo in the second half and created opportunities. Hornby had the first shot, but his effort went just wide of the post, 8 minutes into the half. A minute later, at the other end, El Azzouzi found himself through on goal, but instead of passing across the goal, he went for goal himself and struck the post with Schuhen getting a slight touch on the ball.

Just before the hour mark, Niklas Schmidt attempted a bicycle kick following a corner, but his powerful shot sailed over the bar. At the other end, substitute Luca Marseiler almost scored an own goal to give the visitors the lead, but Schuhen was quick enough to intercept the ball off the line with 20 minutes . Four minutes later, Schuhen made another excellent reflex save to deny Itten’s close-range header.

In the closing stages, the home side managed to settle the game and began to play patient passing to create scoring opportunities. In the 85th minute, a ball fell to Richter, but his shot went wide. Three minutes later, the ball was in the back of the net: after a corner from Richter, Matej Maglica rose highest and headed the ball home for the 2-1 victory. The defender celebrating his 5th goal of the season following his brace last weekend. The Lilies were able to see out the win during 5 minutes of added time despite pressure from the visitors with a series of corners. Fortuna were also reduced to ten men when Jesper Daland was sent off in the final action of the match.