2. Bundesliga: Darmstadt leave relegation zone after comeback victory against Cottbus

Darmstadt secured back-to-back home wins to end Energie Cottbus’ unbeaten run.

Aleksandar Vukotic

Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images

SV Darmstadt secured a 3-1 home win against newly-promoted Energie Cottbus in Saturday afternoon 2. Bundesliga action. The hosts picked six of their seven points in the last three games, while Cottbus have now conceded the most goals in the division.

Claus-Dieter "Pele" Wollitz’s side took an early lead with Justin Butler's third goal from as many games. Summer signings Ho-Jae Lee and Noah Weißhaupt combined for Darmstadt’s equalizer before the break as the latter scored his first goal for the club.

Florian Kohfeldt’s men dominated the second half, but they had to wait until the last 15 minutes to turn the one point into three. First, towering center-back Aleksandar Vukotic scored his second goal of the season from Lance Duijvestijn’s corner-kick delivery.

Substitute Yannick Luhrs sealed the three points with his first goal at this level as the former Borussia Dortmund youth player volleyed it home after Raoul Petretta’s excellent play in the left wing.

The two teams are now only separated by a single point, with Cottbus staying in the top half of the table unless Sunday's results changed things. 

Darmstadt will play away at Karlsruhe on matchday eight, while Cottbus, who have lost for the first time since the end of August, will entertain Miroslav Klose’s in-form Nürnberg side.