Darmstadt stretch unbeaten streak with Ingolstadt victory

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SV Darmstadt 98 took another significant step towards securing their Bundesliga status next season as they stretched their unbeaten run to six games courtesy of a 2-0 win over FC Ingolstadt 04.

SV Darmstadt 98 2-0 FC Ingolstadt 04

Goals:1-0 Rausch (51‘), 2-0 Wagner (85’)

With both sides victorious last time out, neither head coach altered their respective line-ups, but it was Darmstadt who made the brighter start during the scrappy opening exchanges. Mario Vrancic headed wide inside fifteen minutes, while the closest Ingolstadt came to breaking the deadlock before the break was a scuffed Darmstadt clearance that Lukas Hinterseer almost unknowingly deflected beyond Christian Mathenia.

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Darmstadt’s frustration turned to joy soon after the restart when Konstantin Rausch played a one-two with Sandro Wagner before producing a composed first-time finish that found the near corner. The goal sparked Ingolstadt into action, though, as first Max Christiansen and then Dario Lezcano drew strong saves out of Mathenia either side of the hour mark. However, Die Schanzer’s pressure failed to tell as Wagner was on hand to tap home for the hosts, wrapping up a second home win of the season.

Man of the match

If Darmstadt survive this season, Wagner will be hailed the hero for producing performances like this. The striker was a non-stop workhorse up front, set up Rausch for the opener and even found time to grab his 13th goal of the season to put the game beyond doubt.

Talking point

This victory, only their second at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, could prove crucial for Darmstadt come the season’s conclusion. The Lilies now sit four points above the drop zone with winnable games against 1. FC Köln and Eintracht Frankfurt to come.

Match stats

    Rausch ended a run of 24 games without a goal. His last strike came in the 1-1 draw with FC Schalke 04 on Matchday 2.Wagner has been involved in a goal in each of Darmstadt’s last five games, scoring in four of them himself.

Line-ups

Darmstadt: Mathenia - Jungwirth, Sulu (c), Caldirola, Holland - Heller (Sirigu 73’), Niemeyer (Kempe 42’), Gondorf, Rausch - Vrancic - Wagner (Platte 88’)

Coach: Dirk Schuster

Ingolstadt: Özcan - da Costa, Matip (c), Hübner, Bauer - Groß, Roger (Lex 81’), Christiansen - Hinterseer (Leckie 54’), Hartmann (Cohen 70’) - Lezcano

Coach: Ralph Hassenhüttl