Darmstadt knock Foals out of the DFB-Pokal

This season’s DFB-Pokal journey has ended in the second round, with Borussia Mönchengladbach beaten 2-1 away at second-division leaders SV Darmstadt 98.

Around 16,000 fans at a sold-out Stadion am Böllenfalltor saw an aggressive start to the game from the hosts, who deservedly took the lead in the 23rd minute through Phillip Tietz. The Foals, who lost Yann Sommer early on to injury, grew into the match more as the half wore on, but missed good chances to level the scores before the break. Luca Netz was able to equalise three minutes after the restart, but Borussia were unable to reward themselves for their fight, with Aaron Seydel grabbing a 79th-minute winner for the Lilies.

TEAM NEWS

Daniel Farke made two changes to the side that drew at Wolfsburg on the weekend. Ramy Bensebaini and Lars Stindl were rested, as Luca Netz and Nathan Ngoumou were handed opportunities in the starting line-up. Yann Sommer began in goal behind a back-four of Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Nico Elvedi and Netz. Manu Koné and Julian Weigl paired up in centre midfield, with Ngoumou, Jonas Hofmann and Alassane Plea supporting lone striker Marcus Thuram.

The Foals were without Christoph Kramer (ankle), Florian Neuhaus, Ko Itakura (both knee) and Hannes Wolf (shoulder) for the trip to Darmstadt.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

9’: The first chance of the game goes to the home side. Manu takes aim from a tight angle, but Sommer reacts well to parry the ball away from above his head.

13’: Sommer tips a cross from Karic over the crossbar and has to protect the ankle he rolled a few minutes earlier while landing. He signals to the bench that he has to come off and Sippel replaces him.

23’: The hosts take the lead. Mehlem lays the ball off in the box for Tietz and he can pick his spot past Sippel. 1-0 to Darmstadt.

33’: Bader has a pop from a good 30 yards and his dipping effort crashes against the top of the crossbar with Sippel at full stretch.

37’: A big chance to level the scores for Borussia. Plea’s through ball has Thuram in behind, but still with the goalkeeper to beat. He initially rounds him, but with the angle against him, he cuts back inside past the keeper once more and shoots. Isherwood is back on the line though and makes the block.

40’: Another opening for the Foals as Ngoumou drives down the right and into the box. He looks to pick out the bottom corner, but Schuhen manages to stretch his foot onto the ball to deny the young Frenchman his first Borussia goal.

41’: Plea tries his luck from range and forces another save from Schuhen, who punches the shot away for a corner with both fists.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

48’: The perfect start to the half! Brilliant build-up play out of the box leads to Plea’s through ball into the run of Netz. He takes it in his stride in the box and buries a left-footed shot past Schuhen to level the scores. 1-1!

49’: Darmstadt almost respond immediately. A free-kick from Kempe is headed narrowly wide by Manu, with the ball even skimming the far post.

73’: Koné dribbles his way through a few blue shirts, but is under pressure as he looks a curl a shot from 20 yards into the top corner and ends up sending the ball over.

76’: Bader has time to chest down a Karic cross inside the six-yard box, but is leaning back as he tries to volley it home and he skies the ball into the stands.

79’: We trail again. The hosts pick off a short clearance and Mehlem spots the run of Seydel, who holds off Elvedi and tucks a shot past the on-rushing Sippel. 2-1 to Darmstadt.

90’: The last chance to equalise. Plea plays a long ball perfectly into the feet of Herrmann. His first touch is brilliant and allows him to fire a volley at goal, but it’s straight at Schuhen.

MATCH FACTS

Darmstadt: Schuhen – Bader, Pfeiffer, Isherwood, Holland – Karic (83’ Ronstadt), Müller, Kempe (74’ Seydel/84’ Balla), Mehlem (90+1’ Riedel) – Manu, Tietz

Borussia: Sommer (13’ Sippel) – Scally (84’ Herrmann), Friedrich, Elvedi, Netz (83’ Bensebaini) – Weigl, Koné – Ngoumou (83’ Borges Sanches), Hofmann (46’ Stindl), Plea – Thuram // Unused subs: Jantschke, Lainer, Reitz, Noß

Goals: 1-0 Tietz (23’), 1-1 Netz (48’), 2-1 Seydel (78’)

Attendance: 15,850 Zuschauer (sold-out)

Yellow cards: Kempe, Holland, Mehlem – Weigl

Referee: Robert Schröder

Tobias Sippel came on in the 13th minute after an injury to Yann Sommer
Nathan Ngoumou made his first competitive start for the Foals
Phillip Tietz opened the scoring in the 23rd minute

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