SV Darmstadt continues its impressive series of goals in Sandhausen and is aiming for promotion to the Bundesliga. Fortuna Düsseldorf, on the other hand, experienced a setback in the fight for the top spots. The Rhinelanders suffer a bitter defeat at SC Paderborn.
SV Sandhausen – SV Darmstadt 0:4 (0:2)
Leader Darmstadt 98 has presented again in the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga. At SV Sandhausen, threatened with relegation, the lilies won 4-0 (2-0) and initially extended their lead over the relegation place to six points. Sandhausen missed it after the away win in Bielefeld at the beginning of the year and is only two points ahead of a direct relegation zone.
Double packer Mathias Honsak (7th/25th) set the course for victory for the favorites early on, before Oscar Vilhelmsson (55th) eliminated all remaining doubts. Substitute Emir Karic also scored shortly before the end (89th). This means that coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team has remained unbeaten for 20 competitive games. On Tuesday, the lilies will travel to the DFB Cup round of 16 with the Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt (8.45 p.m. / Sky).
In front of 7254 spectators, the Lieberknecht team got off to a great start. Honsak, who started for the first time this season after a long injury layoff, headed a corner over the line from close range. As a result, a balanced encounter developed with penalty scenes on both sides. Then Honsak poked the ball a second time into the goal net with a tackle. After the break, Darmstadt remained efficient and used a counterattack to decide: Phillip Tietz extended a long-hit ball to fellow striker Vilhelmsson, who safely converted in the bottom left corner.
SC Paderborn – Fortuna Düsseldorf 4:1 (1:0)
After the second win in the new year, SC Paderborn keeps an eye on the promotion places. The East Westphalians won the chasing duel against Fortuna Düsseldorf 4:1 (1:0) and initially improved to fourth place. The gap to the relegation place shrank to four points, at least for one night. For the Rhinelanders, three points behind, the goal of the season ascension moved further into the distance.
Marvin Pieringer (37′), Jannis Heuer (62′), Florent Muslija (68′, penalty kick) and substitute Robert Leipertz (81′) scored the goals for Paderborn in front of 12,179 spectators. Rouwen Hennings (59th, penalty kick) equalized in the meantime. Paderborn coach Lukas Kwasniok initially did without striker Leipertz three days after the 2-1 draw in the DFB Cup round of 16 against VfB Stuttgart. At Fortuna, the yellow-banned striker Dawid Kownacki was missing.
Both were sorely missed on the field, goal scenes were initially scarce, the teams largely neutralized each other. Düsseldorf’s World Cup participant Ao Tanaka had the best opportunity in the first half hour, but failed to get through to Paderborn’s keeper Jannik Huth (29′). However, the hosts managed to take the lead when Florent Muslija served from the baseline from Pieringer. It was the sixth goal of the season for Schalke 04 on loan. Sirlord Conteh missed the chance to make it 2-0, who failed after a solo to Fortuna goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier (54th).
It took revenge just five minutes later: After Julian Justvan fouled Michal Karbownik, Hennings converted the penalty kick to equalize. But Paderborn answered promptly: After an arc shot by Pieringer on the crossbar, Heuer dusted off to take the lead again. Before the 3:1 Justvan and Karbownik met again, this time the Düsseldorfer fouled.
