2nd Bundesliga

Böllenfalltor is back!
Traditional club Darmstadt 98 is promoted to the Bundesliga

05/19/2023, 8:26 p.m

Darmstadt 98 uses the third match point to advance to the Bundesliga: With a narrow win against Magdeburg, the lilies make it clear that they will return to the top flight. The party at Böllenfalltor, where first-class football has not been played since 2017, knows no bounds.

All good things come in threes: After two unsuccessful attempts, Darmstadt 98 converted the third match point. With a 1-0 (1-0) win against 1. FC Magdeburg, coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team made the return to the Bundesliga perfect after six years and put the stadium at the Böllenfalltor in a state of emergency.

Against FC St. Pauli (0:3) and at Hannover 96 (1:2) the lilies still had no nerves, but Phillip Tietz (36th, according to video evidence) provided the long-awaited result on the penultimate matchday after a long, cramped performance Redemption – and prevented all arithmetic games in the last few meters. The Lilies were last promoted to the Bundesliga in 2015.

“It’s in our own hands and we want to get promoted,” was Lieberknecht’s motto before kick-off. The Lilien coach didn’t want to know anything about nervous flutter, he called for “positive thoughts”. And again everything was done at the atmospheric “Bölle”.

First tension, then space storm

But the tension among the Darmstadt players and in the stands was palpable. The lilies tried, but the lightness that had characterized the team for months was missing after the two setbacks. It was extremely tough for the hosts, who had started with four changes in the starting eleven due to the suspensions of Matthias Bader and Braydon Manu and the injury to Jannik Müller.

Tietz missed the huge opportunity to take the lead, and keeper Marcel Schuhen had to make up for the gaps in the defense in a counterattack (13′). Only when Tietz scored from close range and the video assistant conceded the offside whistle from referee Harm Osmers did confidence increase – also because Schuhen saved against Jason Ceka before the break in dire need.

But the lilies could by no means feel safe. The guests, for whom it was almost nothing, used a few pinpricks, and Darmstadt continued to make a number of mistakes. For Marvin Mehlem (56th/70th) there were two chances of a more comfortable lead. On the other side, Schuhen was there with two outstanding saves (74th). Immediately after the final whistle, the victorious fans stormed onto the pitch.

Pauli saves a mini chance

Meanwhile, FC St. Pauli kept their theoretical chance of the relegation place. Coach Fabian Hürzeler’s team beat Holstein Kiel 4-3 (1-1) and reduced the gap to city rivals Hamburger SV to three points. Should HSV not lose against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Saturday (8.30 p.m. / Sky and Sport1), third place would no longer be possible for St. Pauli.

The guests were initially behind after a penalty converted by Steven Skrzybski (28′), but Oladapo Afolayan (39′) equalized before the break. An own goal by Hauke ​​Wahl (53′) put St. Pauli on the road to victory, Lukas Daschner (61′) and Leart Paqarada (74′) increased. Marco Komenda (78th) and Fabian Reese (90th + 3) shortened for the storks.