Lilies lose in Karlsruhe

In Darmstadt’s match against Karlsruher SC, both teams had their moments, but the visitors initially capitalised on their opportunities and created more chances. Marco Richter had the first shot after just two minutes, but his effort sailed over the bar when well-placed. The home side’s first opportunity fell to Fukuda, but his shot on the turn sailed over the top corner with 8 minutes played.

Twelve minutes in, Isac Lidberg rounded the goalkeeper and was brought down, but the referee waved play on and VAR didn’t intervene on what looked like a certain penalty. On 19 minutes, Niklas Schmidt tried his luck from distance, but his effort also went over the bar. A minute later, Richter was alert, winning the ball early and firing from a tight angle, but his shot also missed the target.

Throughout the remainder of the match, the best chances fell almost exclusively to the South Hessians, and in the 37th minute, Hiroki Akiyama had a golden opportunity to make it 1-0: After a cross from Killian Corredor, Lidberg missed the ball in the middle, and the Japanese player found himself free at the far post, but fired it well over the bar when he should have scored.

Despite a host of chances for the 98ers, the first half ended goalless.

After the break, the hosts initially had the better opportunities, but were repeatedly thwarted by Marcel Schuhen. Four minutes into the half, following a corner, Franke got a shot away, but it went straight at the goalkeeper. Six minutes later, Schuhen first made a crucial save to deny Fukuda, then deflected a shot from Wanitzek with a superb reflex save with his right boot. Three minutes later, however, Wanitzek scored directly from a free kick to give KSC the lead.

Darmstadt struggled to find a way through for much of the second half, but then took advantage off a long throw-in from Akiyama to equalise: Vukotic flicked the ball on, and Lidberg headed it into the far corner to make it 1-1 with 20 minutes remaining.

Four minutes from time, a ball bounced to Fukuda at the edge of the six-yard box, and his deflected shot found the back of the net to give the home side a 2-1 lead. The visitors then launched a final all-out attack, but ultimately fell just short.