No points in Leipzig

Our away trip to Leipzig got off to another difficult start as the hosts took the lead in the 3rd minute when Thomas Isherwood saw a cross deflect in off his chest. In the following minutes, the Saxons controlled the ball and hardly offered the 98ers any opportunities to get into the game.

The home side continued to dominate in possession but with no real threats to goal. Indeed, it was Darmstadt who threatened next on 23 minutes as fine pass from Julian Justvan released Gerrit Holtmann, but ‚keeper Gulacsi directed the ball around the post.

In the final phase of the first period, Leipzig made more offensive moves, but either the Lilies‘ defense got a leg in the way, or Marcel Schuhen was able to make the save. At the interval, we trailled to that early own goal.

After the break, Schuhen was called into action in twice in quick succession as he denied Openda in the 47th and 48th minutes. In the 50th minute, the Lilien keeper was powerless as Baumgartner’s shot from outside the area found the bottom corner. We almost hit back immediately as Justvan saw an effort blocked by the defender before Gulacsi saved the rebound.

The Lilies didn’t give up in the period that followed and failed twice at the keeper after 65 minutes: Oscar Vilhelmsson came through strongly and tried from a tight angle, but Gulacsi fended off the ball and the goalkeeper also fended off Tobias Kempe’s follow-up shot.

We kept pressing in the final moments but never really threatened Gulacsi and the hosts had the better opportunities but didn’t increase the scoreline.