Relegation Confirmed

The initial phase of the home game against 1. FC Heidenheim was characterised by many interruptions; there were only a few highlights in the first few minutes. After five minutes, our first chance arrived as Fabian Nürnberger’s shot flew over the goal. Four minutes later, Heidenheim also got their first shot, but Dinkci’s weak ball was no problem for Marcel Schuhen. As the playing time went on, FCH found themselves in a finishing position more often, but this initially hardly caused any serious headaches for the home team.

After 26 minutes, however, danger arose: Following a corner, Mainka nodded the ball towards the goal, but Schuhen was wide awake and fended off the attempt. Almost in direct response, the Lilies almost went ahead but Nurnberger saw his effort flash across goal.

After a half with a slight advantage in possession for the visitors, they went into the locker room after 45 minutes without any goals.

After the break, the home team only needed twelve seconds for their first good effort on target: Tim Skarke shot from the turn and Heidenheim’s keeper Müller just managed to steer the ball around the post with a reflex save.

On the other side, Schuhen was also needed, but with a strong save the keeper first fended off a powerful attempt from Kleindienst and then caught Pieringer’s follow-up shot without any problems on 58 minutes. Nürnberger again was the man who almost gave the Lilies the lead: with a remarkable free kick, he forced goalkeeper Müller into a brilliant save with 66 minutes played.

The home team had their next good opportunity a quarter of an hour before the end of the game, but Vilhelmsson was also denied by a strong reflex from the keeper. In the final minutes, the Darmstadt team increased the pressure again and repeatedly played their way into closing positions, but the Lilies were unable to score. In the final minute of normal time, Heidenheim took the win and the points as Dovedan swept home a low cross.