Lilies Suffer Defeat to Elversberg

The opening minutes of the home game against SV Elversberg were initially fairly even, with slight advantages for the home team. Darmstadt recorded their first dangerous shot after eight minutes: Fynn Lakenmacher laid off for Killian Corredor and his shot went wide of the goal. However, the guests took the lead with their first opportunity: after a nice combination from the away side, the Lilies didn’t get the ball cleared and Fellhauer rifled the ball home from distance in the the 12th minute.

In the following minutes, the 98ers tried to find an answer, but rarely had good opportunities to finish. On 20 minutes, Marco Thiede saw his effort blocked by a defender and then four minutes later, Philipp Förster was denied as well.

After 31 minutes, Merveille Papela had the best chance to level after he won the ball strongly, moved into the penalty area and fired the shot just past the far post. The next shot also caused danger 7 minutes later: Corredor shot the ball from the edge of the penalty area, but only hit the side netting. Two minutes later, Andreas Müller won the ball, played a one-two with Lakenmacher, but then failed to hit the ball cleanly. Instead of equalising, the away side extended the lead as Neubauer added a second in the 42nd minute.

In added time, there was a moment of controversy as Fellhauer blocked the ball with his arm and after receiving treatment, the referee was instructed to check by VAR. However, instead of confirming a penalty, an offside was spotted in the buildup and we went in the changing rooms with a two goal deficit.

Things got hectic again in stoppage time in the first period: Fellhauer blocked a shot in the penalty area with his hand, but after a minute-long video review, the referee ruled it offside and so we went into the dressing room with a two-goal deficit.

Two minutes after the break, Thiede had the first effort but shot wide of the post. Damar then bent one wide of the far post for the visitors on 50 minutes. Lakenmacher forced a corner in the 56th minute as his shot was parried behind for a corner.

The Darmstadt team made attacking changes, but it was Elversberg who scored again: Asllani scored to make it 3-0, four minutes after the hour mark. After that, the Lilies barely found a way through and had to play the last few minutes outnumbered after a red card against Fabian Nürnberger on 76 minutes.