SV Darmstadt 98 is still aiming for promotion to the Bundesliga. Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team started the second half of the season with a commanding 2-0 (2-0) win against SSV Jahn Regensburg and continues to lead the table.
The Lilien’s first pursuer is 1. FC Heidenheim, at least until this Sunday, thanks to a 2-0 win over Hansa Rostock. 1. FC Kaiserslautern defended fourth place in the top game with a 3:1 (0:1) win at Hannover 96.
In the stadium at the Böllenfalltor, Darmstadt continued their impressive series: The Hessians haven’t lost since the first matchday and the 0:2 in Regensburg. Braydon Manu put the hosts ahead in the 18th minute. Fabian Holland extended the lead a good ten minutes later (29′). Previously, Regensburg’s Scott Kennedy had seen the red card because of an emergency brake (22nd). At halftime the game was decided.
Lieberknecht was correspondingly satisfied. “It was a deserved win for us,” said the 49-year-old on Sky. Regensburg’s captain Benedikt Gimber, on the other hand, spoke of a “used day”.
Heidenheim with late hits to victory
Unlike in Darmstadt, it was 0-0 in Heidenheim for a long time and the hosts were not the better team. Only in the final phase did the team of coach Frank Schmidt win the game. The goals from Tim Kleindienst (80th) and Florian Pick (88th) made sure of that. Heidenheim now has 36 points and is three behind Darmstadt. With a win against Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday, Hamburger SV could overtake Heidenheim again.
In the top game in the evening, the weakened promoted team from Kaiserslautern fell behind, defender Derrick Köhn (17th) scored for Hanover. Julian Niehues (49th) equalized for guests, Terrence Boyd (66th) then scored the opening goal. Substitute Philipp Hercher (90.7) made it 3-1 just before the final whistle.
In the third afternoon game, Holstein Kiel prevailed 2-1 (0-1) against Bundesliga relegated SpVgg Greuther Fürth. For the Fürthers it was the first defeat under their new head coach Alexander Zorniger. Dickson Abiama shot the Franconian guests forward after half an hour. Hauke Wahl (46th) equalized right after the break. Simon Lorenz scored the winner in the closing stages (84′).
