SV Darmstadt 98 will have to wait for promotion to the Bundesliga. The Hessians conceded a 1-2 (1-2) defeat at Hannover 96 on Sunday and thus missed out on an early ticket to the top flight with three matchdays to go. The second division table leader played too error-prone and deservedly had to accept the second defeat in a row. Matthias Bader and Braydon Manu were shown yellow and red cards in the closing stages.
The 96 attackers Havard Nielsen (11th minute) and Cedric Teuchert (31st) dampened the enthusiasm for promotion of the more than 3500 away fans among the 30,000 spectators. Phillip Tietz (43rd) made the connection. Thanks to a gap of three points to Heidenheim and four to Hamburger SV, the second division club can make the fourth first division promotion in the club's history perfect next Friday (18.30 CET in the F.A.Z. live ticker for the second Bundesliga and on Sky) in the penultimate game of the season against Magdeburg.
Darmstadt looked unsettled in the first half, 96 was much more active. The Norwegian Nielsen scored with a header, Teuchert increased from an acute angle. Shortly before the end of the first half, Darmstadt's top scorer Tietz shortened. In the second part of the game, a game developed that was chaotic at times and characterized by many inaccuracies on both sides. Referee Sascha Stegemann withdrew a Lupfer goal (48th) from Lower Saxony for offside and showed Darmstadt's Bader the yellow-red card (86th). In injury time (90.+3) Manu was also caught, the Lilies finished the game with nine.
Heidenheim loses in Paderborn
1. FC Heidenheim is once again feeling Hamburger SV breathing down their necks in the fight for the leap into the Bundesliga. Due to the 2:3 (2:1) at SC Paderborn, the lead over HSV in the relegation place shrank from four points to one point before the final two games. However, it has been clear since Saturday that FCH has at least secured relegation. Paderborn moved up to fourth place with the win and kept their minimal chance of promotion relegation.
Kai Klefisch had given Paderborn the lead with his first second division goal (26th). Tim Kleindienst with his 24th goal of the season (30th) and Denis Thomalla (36th) nevertheless gave Heidenheim the lead at half-time. But Paderborn turned the game around again through Marvin Pieringer (50') and the outstanding Florent Muslija (52').
Hamburger SV again has the best chances of a direct return to the first division and at least the promotion relegation place practically certain. The Hamburg team won 5-1 (4-0) at Jahn Regensburg, who were desolate in the first half. Due to the defeat of promotion rival 1. FC Heidenheim at SC Paderborn, HSV's prospects for second place have increased significantly again.
In the one-sided game, Robert Glatzel (5th), twice Sonny Kittel (17th/foul penalty, 45th+1) and Miro Muheim (30th) put the favourites clearly in front before the break. Kaan Caliskaner's goal (55th) at the premiere of the new Regensburg coach Joe Enochs was not enough. Substitute Filip Bilbija (81') scored HSV's fifth goal to secure the final score.