SV Darmstadt 98 promoted to Bundesliga

Back-to-back promotions!

SV Darmstadt 98 booked their place in the top flight of German football for the first time in 33 years Sunday, defeating FC St. Pauli 1-0 at their Stadion am Bollenfalltor.

It's a meteoric rise for a club that were only promoted to 2. Bundesliga one year ago, and the 2015-16 Bundesliga will now feature two clubs that have never previously featured in the top division as Darmstadt will be joined by FC Ingolstadt 04.

Darmstadt entered the final matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season one point ahead of Karlsruher SC and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, knowing that only a win would guarantee automatic promotion. And in the end, it was a free kick from almost 30 yards out that secured their fate, as Tobias Kempe produced a moment of genius in the 70th minute.

Karlsruher, meanwhile, will take on Hamburger SV in a promotion play-off after grabbing the third spot in the 2. Bundesliga table with a 2-0 win versus TSV 1860 Munchen. Should they emerge victorious, it will mark the first time Hamburg play in a division below the Bundesliga.

Here are some photos of the festivities in Darmstadt: