Darmstadt 98 sealed a 4‑to‑0 victory over 1. FC Kaiserslautern on the evening of the 21st matchday in the second division. With the win the Lilies move into the top spot in the standings.
From the start the home side controlled the match and produced an impressive display, most of it coming in the first half where they took a 3‑to‑0 lead. Darmstadt were energetic from the first minute, pressuring FCK early on. Fraser Hornby opened the scoring in the fifth minute after a quick break by the Lilies, turning the opportunity into a goal. Shortly afterwards, in the ninth minute, Darmstadt earned a penalty when Luca Marseiler was fouled in the box by Paul Joly. The spot‑kick, however, was saved by keeper David Krahl. The hosts remained undeterred and extended their advantage in the 29th minute: a long ball from Richter found Lakenmacher, who finished with a precise shot under the bar.
Kaiserslautern could manage little in the first half against the hosts’ superiority. They struggled to find real danger in their attacks, while Darmstadt consistently capitalised on chances. In the 45th minute the third goal arrived when Kai Klefisch headed home a rebound from a free‑kick, slotting the ball into the lower left corner.
After the break Kaiserslautern tried to open up the game, becoming more offensive but still unable to break through. In the 52nd minute Darmstadt had another clear cut, with Hornby receiving a lovely pass from Marseiler before missing the ball over Krahl from an acute angle. Even as FCK increased their tempo, Darmstadt remained the more threatening side. The final goal came with 90 minutes remaining when Marseiler finished a miscommunication in the defence, glancing the ball over the on‑rushing keeper Krahl into the net. The fourth goal sealed the win and eliminated Kaiserslautern from the promotion race, leaving them to focus on limiting damage in a forthcoming match against Fürth.
With the win Darmstadt now lead the league table, riding a strong run of form. Their next match is away to Braunschweig where they aim to continue their impressive display, while Kaiserslautern must regroup and aim for a rebound to stay competitive.
