Eown goal gave SV Darmstadt 98 the next step towards the Bundesliga and spoiled the mood for a great evening in the DFB Cup for 1. FC Nürnberg. The “Club” lost five days before the quarterfinals against VfB Stuttgart (Wednesday, 6 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the DFB Cup and on Sky) in the 2nd division 0:1 (0:1) against the leaders. The Hessians improved to 55 points, while the FCN have to look further down.
“Club” captain Christopher Schindler extended a cross from Darmstadt’s Matthias Bader into his own goal with his left foot after a failed attempt to clear the ball. The goal in the 31st minute was not apparent on Friday evening in front of 26,545 spectators in the Max Morlock Stadium. The hosts were good in the game, worked corner kick after corner kick and had good final actions by Lino Tempelmann (15th), Kwadwo Duah (19th) and Fabian Nürnberger (29th).
After the break, the guests managed the narrow lead against committed Nurembergers, who were not compelling in attack. Darmstadt goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen saved a sharp long-range shot from Johannes Geis (57′). Substitute Braydon Manu almost scored the second goal for the Hessians with a header (71st).
HSV is on the spot
Meanwhile, Hamburger SV continues to tread water in the promotion race. In an entertaining top game at Fortuna Düsseldorf, the North Germans couldn’t get more than 2: 2 (1: 2) and have now been three games without a win. An own goal by Christoph Klarer (75th) saved HSV a point after Dawid Kownacki (21st) and Felix Klaus (28th) stopped the game in front of 52,200 spectators in the sold-out Düsseldorf Arena after Laszlo Benes (5th ) initially rotated. Hamburg’s Francisco Montero (89th) saw the yellow-red card shortly before the end.
Coach Tim Walter’s team from Hamburg remain third after matchday 26, but are in danger of losing direct contact with the direct promotion places for the time being. Fortuna is still seven points behind HSV and will probably have to bury their dreams of promotion.
The batch required no start-up time. Jordy de Wijs brought down Robert Glatzel in the penalty area. Although Benes shot the penalty kick that was due, he was successful in the follow-up shot. As he cheered, he held up a Mario Vuskovic jersey. His team-mate was banned for two years on Thursday for a doping violation. Fortuna used their chances very effectively: After a corner, Kownacki was completely free to head the ball, then Klaus ran alone to HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes after an assist from Rouwen Hennings and kept his nerve.
The turning point brought the Rhinelanders noticeable self-confidence. HSV, on the other hand, looked battered. Only after the break did the guests take more and more control of the game, but chances remained scarce.
