Later on Sunday, Borussia Monchengladbach staged a miraculous comeback in Darmstadt, in part thanks to a controversial red card. Darmstadt started the game bottom of the table, but exploded into the first half with two goals in the first ten minutes.
Marvin Mehlem picked up a looping long ball to slot home the first. Matej Maglica doubled the lead with a header two minutes later. Tim Skarke blasted in a third on the half-volley just after the half-hour, putting Darmstadt on course for a first win of the season.
The game turned early in the second half when Maglica was sent off after appearing to brush the ball with his hand in the box. "We were lucky the decision went our way because it gave us a chance to get back in the game," said Gladbach midfielder Julian Weigl after the whistle.
Tomas Cvancara missed the penalty, but US international Jordan Siebatcheu Pefok pulled a goal back for Gladbach a few minutes later. Florian Neuhaus added a second from close range on 73 minutes, before Cvancara atoned with a brilliant long-range equaliser.
September 17, 2023