In a dramatic final day in the 2. Bundesliga, there wasn’t just drama at the top. Karlsruher SC came from behind to beat SpVgg Greuther Fürth and condemn 1. FC Nürnberg to a play-off to retain their second-tier status.
Daniel Keita-Ruel had put Fürth ahead against Karlsruhe before 20-year-old Dominik Kother scored his first goal for Karlsruhe to bring them level. Philipp Hofmann then scored from the spot to secure three points that, due to events elsewhere, were enough to secure survival for Christian Eichner’s men.
That is because Nürnberg could only draw against Holstien Kiel, leaving them 16th and facing a play-off against a 3. Liga side to be determined. Patrick Erras had given them an early lead but Lion Lauberbach struck with 23 minutes remaining.
There was drama at the end as a Kiel winner was ruled out and Ioannis Gelios saved on the line to keep the scores level at the end.
It means that Jens Keller’s side will have to play against, most likely, the side finishing fourth in the 3. Liga, although they will have to wait ten days for the first leg with the third tier season not concluding until next week.
Elsewhere on Sunday
VfB Stuttgart had their promotion back to the Bundesliga confirmed however they lost 3-1 to SV Darmstadt 98. Mario Gómez got their solitary goal in his final game for the club.
Relegated SV Wehen Wiesbaden died the way they lived this season – dangerously – with a 5-3 win over FC St. Pauli, with Phillip Tietz scoring a hat-trick in the absence of Manuel Schäffler. Dynamo Dresden signed off with a 2-2 draw with VfL Osnabrück, but had been leading 2-0.
Hannover 96 secured sixth place with a 2-0 win against VfL Bochum, with FC Erzgebirge Aue finishing just behind them after coming from 1-0 down to beat SSV Jahn Regensburg 2-1.
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