After 13 unbeaten second-division matches, SV Darmstadt 98 suffered their first defeat this Friday evening. Three unfortunate minutes just before halftime, during which Patric Pfeiffer was sent off and Vincent Vermeij scored twice, paved the way for Dresden's victory. After the match, the focus was primarily on the differing assessments of two very similar incidents by the refereeing team – incidents which both coaches subsequently evaluated identically.
„I love playing here at this wonderful venue. I have great respect for Dynamo: playing like this in a relegation battle isn’t common, it deserves recognition. Nevertheless, we put in a good away performance. We knew Dynamo would come out with a lot of energy. Despite that, we managed to gain control and had two great chances through Schmidt and Akiyama. Great respect also goes to my team for how we played as if it were a draw, even at 3-0 down. That shows the mentality of my team. I’m also happy for Furu that he scored his first goal. To address the elephant in the room: I never said anything to the referee during my time at Darmstadt, but this time I have to say it objectively: the referee decided the game today because he fundamentally misjudged two situations. In the first situation with Isac, which was a deliberate hold, no Dynamo player could intervene. With Paddy’s foul, two players were in close proximity. It is an absolute outrage that a red card is awarded in this situation.“
„A compliment to my team for the way we won the game. Even in the second half, when you can easily collapse after your own red card, we didn’t fall apart. We had a very good spell in terms of possession. Then we made it 3-0. We’re happy to take the three points. I assess both situations the same way as Flo and understand the frustration 100 percent. We often lack consistency, and that was the case again today.“
„We took the task very well until the sending-off. Keller’s action, where he pulled Isac, warrants a red card. Since the supposed red card against Paddy (Pfeiffer) wasn’t right in my opinion, it was a double wrong decision. Unfortunately, that decided the game. It’s a shame because Dresden plays incredible football; it’s so much fun to play here with this atmosphere. It’s bitter that the game is then influenced by such a decision.
We tried everything, but there are these games where you feel like nothing’s going right. Even with the third goal, when I made the save in a one-on-one and the ball then fell right to the Dresden player’s feet. Nevertheless, after it was 3-1, suddenly 30,000 people thought we could still turn the game around. We get to play eleven against eleven again next week, and then we’ll try everything again.“
„Losing never feels good. In the first half, we were the better team until the sending-off. We created three or four good chances in the first 40 minutes. Then the referee gave us a red card. I don’t think it was a red card, but I haven’t seen it on video yet. In the remaining five minutes before halftime, there was a lot of disarray, and that’s how we conceded two goals. Then it was difficult in the second half. But we’re a solid team and have a good mindset. We lost today, but it won’t knock us down. We’ll learn from it and shake it off.“
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: