Freiburg win, Hamburg draw in Bundesliga

Rafael van der Vaart of Hamburg reacts during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and VfL Wolfsburg at Imtech Arena on May 5, 2013 in Hamburg, Germany. (Getty Images)

Berlin, May 6 (IANS): Freiburg remain on course for Europe thanks to a 2-0 victory over Augsburg, while Wolfsburg came from behind at Hamburg to snatch one point to close the 32nd round of the Bundesliga.

Relegation-threatened Augsburg failed to grab a spot in safety as they lost 0-2 to clinical Freiburg Sunday.

Augsburg staged a courageous performance as they kept things firmly in their hands for long periods of the first half. They produced numerous goal scoring opportunities but Sascha Moelder, Andre Hahn and Dong Won Ji failed to find a slot for the ball.

However, Augsburg’s wastefulness were punished by Freiburg’s Cedrick Makiadi, who utilised a block by goalkeeper Alexander Manninger from very close range to break the deadlock against the run of the game in the 30th minute. Freiburg nearly doubled the lead before the interval but Manniger denied Jonathans Schmids’ header from five metres.

The opener gave Freiburg momentum as Schmid utilised a through ball by Max Kruse to beat Manninger one on one from 14 metres into the near post corner in the 61st minute.

With two matches remaining, Freiburg established a three-point gap to chasers to occupy sixth position, an UEFA Europa League spot, with 48 points while Augsburg stay on 16th place, a relegation playoff spot, with 30 points.

By the looks of things, Hamburg squandered their chances of a spot in Europe as they gave away a neat lead against Wolfsburg. It looked like a first half without highlights but the opener by Hamburg’s Heiko Westermann gladdened the 50,123 spectators just before the break. Westermann nodded home a Rafael van der Vaarts cross to stun the visitors.

Wolfsburg responded in the 65th minute when substitute Ivan Perisic crossed into path of Makoto Hasebe, who scored with a diving header to restore parity. Yet, Wolfsburg had the chance to grab the lead but substitute Bas Dost failed to overcome Hamburg keeper Jaroslav Drobny, who saved his side one point with several saves at the closing period.

The draw moved Hamburg from eighth to seventh place, three points behind the last spot for UEFA Europa League whilst Wolfsburg stay at 11th.