2nd league
Osnabrück loses to Schalke and is relegated
VfL Osnabrück was relegated after losing to Schalke. photo
© Tim Rehbein/dpa
After the bankruptcy in the alternative stadium at Hamburg’s Millerntor, the Lower Saxony team can no longer be saved and are relegated from the 2nd league for the eighth time. Schalke, on the other hand, managed to stay in the league.
VfL Osnabrück is the first to be relegated from the 2nd Bundesliga. The Lower Saxony lost their home game against FC Schalke 04 0:4 (0:2) in the alternative stadium at Hamburg’s Millerntor. Two game days before the end of the season, VfL’s gap to the relegation place is an uncatchable seven points.
The goals for Gelsenkirchen, who secured their place in the league with the win, were scored by Keke Topp (2nd and 75th minutes), Kenan Karaman (5th) and Assan Ouédraogo (65th).
After the city of Osnabrück closed the stadium at the Bremer Bridge for security reasons and no spectators were allowed at the Millerntor, VfL found it very difficult to cope with the ghostly atmosphere. Schalke duped the Osnabrück defense on the first two occasions. First Topp completed Simon Terodde’s preparatory work, then Karaman beat VfL keeper Philipp Kühn with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
After the early lead, the guests withdrew and left the field to the Lower Saxons. Except for a long-range shot from Athanasios Androutsos (39′), Osnabrück didn’t get any dangerous shots. Even after the break there was hardly any rebellion from VfL. Substitute Ouédraogo and Topp sealed the purple-whites’ eighth second division relegation with Schalke’s goals three and four.