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György Garics' own goal put Stuttgart ahead in the second half - © © imago / Huebner
György Garics' own goal put Stuttgart ahead in the second half - © © imago / Huebner

Stuttgart scrap to narrow victory over Darmstadt

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SV Darmstadt 98 suffered their first away defeat of the season after a hard fought 2-0 loss away to VfB Stuttgart.

VfB STUTTGART 2-0 SV DARMSTADT 98

Goals: 1-0 Garics o.g. (68'), 2-0 Werner (90')

Stuttgart started the game brightly with early opportunities for Daniel Didavi and Daniel Schwaab. This was not the usual all-out-attacking rigour of Alexander Zorniger's Stuttgart, however, and the Swabians spent much of the opening 15 minutes soaking up Darmstadt pressure as the game developed into a hard-fought affair.

As the first half wore on, both sides had difficulties creating significant opportunities. Geoffroy Serey Die blasted the ball over the open goal for Stuttgart, and Marcel Heller saw his shot saved on the half-hour mark. Their biggest chance of the half came on 39 minutes when Daniel Didavi's direct free kick brushed the outside of the post.

The hosts created the first major opportunity of the second half on 67 minutes when Timo Werner's header struck the bar. Moments later, Christian Gentner's cross bounced off the head of Darmstadt's György Garics and into the back of the net, giving the Swabians the lead.

The goal tore the game open, with Darmstadt desperate to strike back on the counter attack. Heller, Rosenthal and Kempe all came close just after the 70 minute mark. Dirk Schuster's side threw everything they had at their hosts in the closing stages, and only the excellence of goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton was enough to defend Stuttgart's lead. In the dying seconds, Timo Werner broke away to take the ball around Mathenia and wrap up the win.

Man of the match

Przemyslaw Tyton was imperious between the Stuttgart posts, denying Marcel Heller on a number of occasions. In the second half particularly, without Tyton's brilliance in the one-on-one, Darmstadt would certainly have taken points.

Talking point

Stuttgart have struggled to find results under the gung-ho, attacking style of Alexander Zorniger. They set up more defensively here, and were rewarded.

Match stats

    This was Darmstadt's first away defeat of the season.Stuttgart had 19 shots on goal to Darmstadt's 17.The Swabians enjoyed 60 per cent of possession.

Line-ups

Stuttgart: Tyton - Klein, Sunjic, Baumgartl, Insua, Serey Die (Kliment 62') - Schwaab, Gentner - Didavi (Hlousek 87') - Harnik (Maxim 32'), Werner

Darmstadt: Mathenia – Garics, Sulu, Caldirola, Junior Diaz – Gondorf, Niemeyer (Vrancic 80') – Heller, Rosenthal (Stroh-Engel 84'), Rausch (Kempe 71') – Wagner