The aim was simple for Darmstadt, win and Bundesliga football next season will be theirs, with Karlsruher and Kaisersalutern hot on their tails they had everything to lose. It's been an incredible two season's for the Hesse based club and St. Pauli arrived to spoil the party and finish their season on high after a disappointing campaign.
This was only the second meeting between the two side's and the game in December ended with Darmstadt winning 1-0 after Fabian Holland scored four minutes from time. Darmstadt went into the game without centre back Romain Brégerie due to suspension, as for St. Pauli they were without Markus Thorandt due to inury.
It was a fantastic atmosphere before kick off and it was one which made you wish you were there. Darmstadt were keen to impress early and they came close to scoring inside three minutes, Tobias Kempe clipped in a free-kick and just as Aytac Sulu was about to head toward's goal Lasse Sobiech managed to knick in and head past the post for a corner.
St. Pauli had an early chance themselves, from a promising attack they earned a corner and the delivery was a good one and Sobiech leapt well, however he could only head over.
Marcel Heller picked up the ball out on the right and he whipped in a lovely low ball across goal and it almost found it's way to Ronny König at the back post, unfortunately for the host's Sobiech was there to clear.
Leon Balogun whipped in a lovely cross and on the stretch König managed to flick the ball into the path of Kempe and despite the space he had, he could only strike his effort into the side netting.
Just before the break every Darmstadt fan would've felt their heart beating ridiculously fast as Benjamin Gorka's header went flying past Christian Mathenia and fortunately it was going just wide, Mathenia managed to keep the ball in play and wasn't happy with his centre back.
Ten minute's into the second half Kempe had a chance to score from his free-kick, although it was a good effort Robin Himmelmann didn't look worried as the effort flew just over the bar.
There weren't many chances in the first fifteen minute's of the half as both team's cancelled each other out and St. Pauli defended very well to head every dangerous cross clear. St. Pauli had an effort on goal just after the half hour mark Christopher Buchtmann fired from range and Mathenia collected the danger.
Straight after that shot St. Pauli almost trailed as Sulu got his head to a corner and it flew just over.
Darmstadt had a penalty shout turned down, Jérôme Gondorf went past Enis Alushi and after some contact he went down, the referee felt Gondorf was looking for the penalty and waved play on.
Twenty minute's from time Darmstadt took the lead to spark massive celebration's, Kempe stepped up for his freekick and managed to sneak his effort over the wall and just out of the reach of Himmelmann.
From a corner St. Pauli almost equalised as Hanno Behren's controlled the cross, Thy nicked the ball and his shot on the turn was deflected just past the post for a corner.
St. Pauli applied some late pressure as they looked for an equaliser, sadly for them it didn't come. The loss didn't matter in the end as they stayed up by a point. It was time to party for Darmstadt as fan's poured onto the pitch at the final whistle, they are now a Bundesliga club after achieving back to back promotions.