U21’s gain a point against Eintracht Frankfurt

The opening phase was evenly matched, with the visitors enjoying more possession but initially failing to create any significant scoring opportunities against a well-organised Lilien.

In the 14th minute, Frankfurt nevertheless took the lead: After a challenge, referee Rolbetzki awarded a penalty to the visitors, which Daniel Starodid converted confidently. With the lead in their backs, the league leaders took even greater control of the game, with most of the action taking place in SV 98’s half. The Lilien managed to repeatedly create pinpricks in transition play throughout the first half, but they never really threatened in the first half hour.

In the 36th minute, Frankfurt created a good opportunity, but Til Rohde made a strong reflex save to prevent Jonas Baur from scoring. Two minutes later, a scene changed the tide of the game: Frankfurt’s Jeremiaha Maluze was too late to challenge Mika Schlosser, and referee Rolbetzki showed the visitors‘ centre-back the red card. With fewer players, Frankfurt continued to retreat, and the Lilies gained more possession without creating any major opportunities before halftime.

After the break, the Lilies cornered the visitors in their own half of the pitch and repeatedly found open positions for crossing. The downside: all their crosses found no takers. After just over an hour, it was Frankfurt who created the first significant goal-scoring threat of the second half following a counterattack: Kaan Inanoglu missed from a free-kick in front of Rohde.

Then, the usual pattern emerged: Darmstadt had extremely high possession but no decisive finishes. That changed in the 79th minute: Following a free kick, substitute Nasir Zaatan shot from a tight angle and hammered the ball onto the post. An Eintracht defender cleared Smail Kadrijaj’s follow-up shot off the goal line.

The double chance marked the beginning of a furious final phase. In the 84th minute, referee Rolbetzki awarded another penalty. This time for the Lilies. Kadrijaj coolly equalised (85′).

The drama continued. Following a foul by Markus Ballmert, the visitors were awarded another penalty, but Til Rohde prevented another goal with a brilliant save from Starodid in the 89th minute.

There was no further goal in the hectic final minutes, and the Lilies secured a hard-fought point against the league leaders.