SV Darmstadt 98 no longer knows what defeat feels like. They have not had to hang their heads for 17 competitive games. Since performance is always worth it in football, they can celebrate the autumn championship in the second division after the victory in Magdeburg.
Darmstadt 98 has extended the table lead in the 2nd Bundesliga. The team coached by Torsten Lieberknecht, who have been unbeaten for 17 competitive games, won 1-0 (0-0) at 1. FC Magdeburg on Thursday at the end of the 16th matchday. The lilies are definitely going into the World Cup break as the front runners and autumn champions.
Central defender Patric Pfeiffer (78th) scored the decisive goal for Darmstadt, who suffered their only defeat on the first day of the game against Jahn Regensburg. Magdeburg’s Cristiano Piccini saw a controversial red card for an emergency brake after video evidence (54th). “Unfortunately, the decision changed the game a lot,” Magdeburg coach Christian Titz complained after the game: “It wasn’t more than yellow and you can’t decide more than that.” With 35 points, the Lieberknecht team is now four points ahead of Hamburger SV. The hosts slip to 14th place (18 points).
“It doesn’t matter. There’s talk about victories all the time, but I don’t give a shit. Ultimately, you get three points if you win 1-0,” said Darmstadt’s Phillip Tietz. Of course, the autumn championship gives “a lot of self-confidence, but that doesn’t bother us all,” explained the goalscorer.
Darmstadt started the game with the self-image of a leader. The Hessians combined well into the last third, but the home side also played along happily. After ten minutes, Tietz missed the lead of the guests. A little later, Magdeburg’s Connor Krempicki missed from a good position (13′).
After the break, Piccini stopped the ball with his hand before Marvin Mehlem broke through. Referee Wolfgang Halsberger initially gave a yellow card, but after studying the television pictures he officially rated the offense as an “emergency brake” because of preventing a goal chance and decided on red. Darmstadt then forced the goal with a majority: Pfeiffer headed in after a corner. Magdeburg responded with furious attacks.
