The Lilien gain another point

The opening minutes of the match between the Lilies and Hertha Berlin clearly went to the home side. With over 70 percent possession, Darmstadt controlled the ball and approached the goal for the first time after six minutes: Marco Richter shot from the edge of the penalty area, and the ball deflected just wide. Despite Darmstadt’s control of the game, the visitors had the best chance, but Gechter narrowly missed a cross and thus the lead in the 14th minute. Berlin’s next counterattack 5 minutes later, again posed a threat, this time a deflected shot from Krattenmacher rebounded off the post

On 23 minutes, the South Hesse side also hit the woodwork: Killian Corredor played a corner to the far post, where Aleksandar Vukotic also hit the post while falling. Two minutes later, the Lilies were celebrating: After a through ball from Fabian Nürnberger, Isac Lidberg remained ice-cold in front of the goalkeeper – unfortunately, the Swede had been offside beforehand, and the goal was disallowed. With another corner, the 98ers threatened again: Patric Pfeiffer headed the ball, but his powerful effort flew wide of the far post with 32 minutes on the clock.

As the game progressed, Hertha found their footing. In the 39th minute, the Lilies were fortunate not to fall behind: Thorsteinsson’s header hit the crossbar, followed by a brilliant last-second clearance from Vukotic. Thus, after an otherwise lively first half, the teams went to the dressing rooms goalless.

The game continued to be entertaining after the break. After 51 minutes, Corredor cut in from the outside and shot. Ernst in the Hertha goal only let the ball bounce, but neither Lidberg nor Hornby could reach it.

The game remained fast-paced, but no big chances arose. Then, on 71 minutes, the visitors thought they had went ahead in the game. David Kownacki fired in a cross which was finished emphatically by Krattenmacher, however the Pole had strayed offside before providing the cross.

In the closing stages, the 98ers increased the pressure a bit and created a few opportunities, but were unable to pose a real threat. Seven minutes before the end of regular time, the Böllenfalltor crowd had a cheer caught in their throats. Following a free kick variation, Corredor headed the ball towards goal, and Ernst just barely deflected the ball onto the post before Patric Pfeiffer saw his follow up blocked with players appealing for a penalty for handball.

Darmstadt continued to try for the winning goal in stoppage time, four minutes into added time Bartosz Bialek crashed an effort that narrowly clear the bar, then two minutes later Jean-Paul Boëtius’s effort landed in the keeper’s arms. At the other end, Fabian Reese should have won the game for the visitors when he was found in a one on one with Schuhen but he dragged his effort wide with two minutes remaining. Thus, the game ended goalless, and SVD remains undefeated in their third game of the season.