SVWW narrow defeat to Champions in season finale
Pros |
The second Sunday of Advent, 8 December, saw SV Wehen Wiesbaden earn a point at home to local rivals SV Darmstadt 98. 8,034 spectators turned out in the BRITA Arena to watch the two sides play out a goalless draw, albeit an entertaining one.
SVWW Head Coach Rüdiger Rehm made two alterations to the side that won 2-0 away in Nuremberg last week. Stefan Aigner, fresh from serving a suspension, came back into the starting line-up to replace Michel Niemeyer. Aigner lined up on the right wing, with Maximilian Dittgen shifting to left-back to fill the space vacated by Niemeyer. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh played ahead of him on the left wing. Jeremias Lorch moved into the starting line-up to replace suspended club captain Sebastian Mrowca in the heart of midfield.
The Red & Blacks made a spirited start to the encounter. Strong in the tackle and determined in transition play, the home side were able to put the Darmstadt defence under constant pressure in the opening stages of the match. SVWW left-back Dittgen bombed forward at every opportunity, and in the eighth minute, he found space to deliver a dangerous cross into the area. Manuel Schäffler managed to get his head to it, but his effort flew just over the crossbar.
The away side slowly began to work their way into the match and, soon enough, the Lilies had their first efforts on goal. Marvin Mehlem (13th minute), Tobias Kempe (15th minute) and Seungho Paik (17th minute) all tried their luck from distance but were denied by the magnificently well-placed Heinz Lindner in the SVWW goal.
The match was now finely in the balance and nothing could separate the local rivals. Both sides sought to get men forward and find the opening goal, which led to an entertaining affair. In the 22nd minute, SVWW frontman Schäffler had another headed effort, with Darmstadt goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen able to get a glove to it to send the ball deflecting back off the upright. However, replays showed that Schäffler was standing in an offside position from Marvin Ajani's free-kick delivery which meant the goal would not have counted.
Down the other end, Kempe got the opportunity to line up a free-kick from 18 metres out. As had been the case ten minutes previously, SVWW keeper Lindner was able to make the save and send the ball out for a corner. Still nothing could separate the two sides.
Shortly before half-time, the Lilies had captain Fabian Holland to thank for the match remaining goalless. Niklas Dams sent a header flying goalwards from a corner. Goalkeeper Schuhen was left stranded but Holland was on hand to head the ball away from the goalline – it was unquestionably the best chance of the match thus far. As it was, the two sides went in at the break with the score still at 0-0.
SVWW made the brighter start after re-emerging from the tunnel for the second half. The Red & Blacks managed to force the guests on the back-foot with controlled possession and tidy build-up play, but were nonetheless unable to create much in the way of goal-scoring opportunities.
With an hour on the clock, Darmstadt came extremely close to opening the scoring. Kempes' cross was met by Serdar Dursun, whose close-range header went just wide of the target – it was a real let-off for the Red & Blacks. The Lilies were now very much back in the match. There was everything to play for, but neither side could find the breakthrough.
On the 67 minute mark, SVWW fashioned their first real chance of the second period. Schäffler unleashed a shot on goal from 20 metres out, but a deflection sent his dangerous effort out for a corner.
As the final whistle drew closer, Darmstadt seemed to be happy to settle for a point, while the home side looked to try their luck by working the wide areas. Aigner, who was a constant menace down the right flank, received the ball on the sideline and drove forward into the middle of the park before being hacked to the ground by Victor Pálsson. After consulting with VAR, the referee showed the Darmstadt man a straight red card. SVWW now had a numerical advantage and 15 minutes in which to find a goal.
Despite being down to ten men, it was the away side who had the better chances in what remained of the match. Substitute Skarke (79th minute) and Mehlem (80th minute) were however both denied by excellent saves from Lindner.
The Red & Blacks sent as many bodies forward as possible, but the Lilies' determination in defence made life difficult for Rüdiger Rehm's charges. A lack of space and an inability to find the requisite precision in the final ball meant there would be no late winner in this Hesse derby.
SVWW: Lindner – Ajani, Mockenhaupt, Dams, Chato, Dittgen (81. Knöll) – Aigner, Lorch, Titsch Rivero (72. Schwede), Kyereh – Schäffler