SV Darmstadt 98 returned impressively on Saturday, beating KSV Holstein Kiel 2-0 at home and moving into second place in the 2. Bundesliga. The hosts took advantage of a numeric superiority after Kiel’s Marcus Müller was sent off with a yellow‑red card in the 25th minute.
In the 48th minute, Isac Lidberg outwitted goalkeeper Weiner and slipped the ball into the empty net to give Darmstadt the lead. Four minutes later, Niklas Schmidt doubled the advantage, firing a shot from a central position after a setup from Marseiler.
Kiel had started the first half confidently and created an early big chance from a play by Kelati, but it was cleared by Vukotic at the line. After Müller’s dismissal the rest of the half saw Darmstadt dominate without producing decisive chances.
The second half saw a marked improvement from Darmstadt. Schmidt rattled the post in the 50th minute and scored his second in the 52nd. The home side maintained control, leaving the weakened Kiel lineup little room to maneuver. A further opportunity for Schmidt in the 58th minute went unconverted, and the Dalmstadt attack later subsided.
Kiel managed only one significant chance in their attempt for a consolation goal. In the 80th minute, Therkelsen’s shot over the bar failed to find the target. Darmstadt held the lead comfortably until the final whistle and now heads into their next match against 1. FC Magdeburg with confidence. Kiel, meanwhile, will prepare for an away game against 1. FC Nürnberg.
Other results from Saturday afternoon of the 25th matchday were: Paderborn 1-1 Braunschweig and Nürnberg 0-1 Düsseldorf.