Darmstadt advanced to the Round of 16 in the DFB-Pokal with a decisive 4-0 victory over 2. Bundesliga rivals Schalke 04.
Schalke had extended their winning streak to five games in the league with a narrow victory over Darmstadt prior to this cup match. However, the cup encounter unfolded differently, with Darmstadt taking a commanding 2-0 lead by halftime.
The match saw its first significant opportunities arise after 18 minutes, with both Fraser Hornby and Kenan Karaman missing chances to score for their respective teams. Darmstadt welcomed back Isac Lidberg, who had been absent from the weekend's squad, and he played a crucial role in the attack.
Lidberg, who had netted eight league goals, assisted Hiroki Akiyama for the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Following a corner-kick from Schalke, Darmstadt executed a swift counterattack, with Akiyama capitalizing on his second attempt.
Darmstadt continued to dominate, with Matej Maglica doubling their lead just five minutes later with a close-range header. They nearly made it three before halftime, but Lidberg missed a one-on-one opportunity against goalkeeper Lorius Karius.
Shortly after the break, Hornby, who initiated the move, scored the third goal for Darmstadt. Before manager Miron Muslic made his first substitutions, Bartosz Bialek added a fourth goal, scoring just moments after coming on for Lidberg. Hornby was instrumental in this goal as he was not involved from an offside position.
Although it was a lost cause for Schalke, Janik Bachmann missed a late chance to score for the visitors, concluding a challenging match for the team.
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