Freiburg's six-year stint in the Bundesliga was brought to an end this afternoon courtesy of a 2-1 loss away at Hannover.
Christian Streich's men went into the encounter at the Niedersachsenstadion knowing that a win would secure their top-flight status, while a loss, accompanied by wins for fellow strugglers Stuttgart and Hamburg, would see them relegated - a scenario that has ultimately been played out.
The goal that put the away side on the back foot came in just the third minute when Hiroshi Kiyotake rose highest to head in Miiko Albornoz's cross.
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With the knowledge that other results were going against them, Freiburg spent the remainder of the game looking to attack, but when they did break through the home defence, they found goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler in good form.
Then, with five minutes remaining, their failure to score was punished when Pavel Krmas turned the ball into his own net, thus sealing his side's fate in the process.
As the match entered stoppage time, Nils Petersen pulled a goal back following a solo run, but it was too little too late.
Liam Apicella
