Second division leaders Darmstadt 98 have given away the first match point to return to the Bundesliga. Coach Torsten Lieberknecht's team lost 31-0 (3-0) to FC St. Pauli on Matchday 1 and missed the assist from third-placed Hamburger SV.

After HSV had not gone beyond a 2-2 draw against SC Paderborn on Friday, the Lilies could not have been deprived of promotion if they had won. However, the championship leader's lead over third place is still seven points.

The next chance to make the return to the top flight after six years perfect comes next Sunday at Hannover 96 (13.30 p.m. in the F.A.Z. live ticker for the second Bundesliga and on Sky).

An own goal by Phillip Tietz (45'), Elias Saad (57') and David Otto (84') gave St. Pauli, by far the best team in the second half of the season, victory. The Hamburgers thus kept their chance of the relegation place and reduced the gap to HSV to four points. For Darmstadt, it was the first home defeat of the season.

After an atmospheric start in the stands in the stadium at the Böllenfalltor, the Darmstadt team started nervously. Fabian Schnellhardt (8th) and Tietz (20th) came forward with dangerous finishes, but slight mistakes often crept into Darmstadt's efforts. It was also Tietz who unluckily deflected the ball into his own goal after a free kick from the visitors.

In the second half, goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen kept the Lilies in the game against Marcel Hartel (47th). However, the keeper was powerless when Saad extended the lead of the growing visitors from close range.

Darmstadt nevertheless fought back, but substitute Aaron Seydel (69th) missed the connection. Otto, on the other hand, finally dashed Darmstadt's last hopes of a late turnaround.