Pro Sports

Bochum, Greuther FÃ¼rth promoted back to Bundesliga

Posted May 23, 2021 7:00 am

By CIARÃN FAHEY

Bochum's Milos Pantovic, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the German 2. Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum and SV Sandhausen in Bochum, Germany, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Guido Kirchner/dpa via AP) The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) - Bochum defeated SV Sandhausen 3-1 on Sunday to earn Bundesliga promotion as second division champion with runner-up Greuther FÃ¼rth also clinching promotion on the final day.

FÃ¼rth came from behind despite playing the second half with 10 men to beat Fortuna DÃ¼sseldorf 3-2 and take advantage of Holstein Kiel's 3-2 loss at home to Darmstadt.

The top two are automatically promoted to Germany's top division, with Kiel '“ the third-place finisher '“ now facing a two-leg playoff against Cologne, which finished third from bottom in the Bundesliga, to see which plays where next season.

Bochum won the division with 67 points from 34 games, three more than FÃ¼rth, with Kiel '“ which had been second '“ dropping two points further back.

Kiel was winning 1-0 and on course for promotion, but appeared uncertain after Janni Serra's early goal and went on to concede three goals to Darmstadt, a team that only had pride at stake.

It was Kiel's second missed chance at promotion after losing 3-2 at Karlsruher SC last weekend. Kiel held the lead in that game, too.

American midfielder Julian Green equalized for FÃ¼rth to make it 2-2 against DÃ¼sseldorf before the 22-year-old Dickson Abiama fired the winner to secure FÃ¼rth's return to the top division.

FÃ¼rth was previously promoted in 2012. Bochum is back in the Bundesliga after an 11-year absence.

Former Bundesliga heavyweight Hamburger SV's hopes of a return were foiled in a 3-2 loss at OsnabrÃ¼ck last weekend, ensuring it could no longer finish among the top three.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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CiarÃ¡n Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP

Supporters of VfL Bochum cheer their team outside the stadium during the German 2. Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Bochum and SV Sandhausen in Bochum, Germany, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Fabian Strauch/dpa via AP) The Associated Press

Darmstadt's Serdar Dursun, front, and Kiel's Simon Lorenz in action during the German 2. Bundesliga match between Holstein Kiel - Darmstadt 98 at Holstein-Stadion, Kiel, Germany, Sunday May 23, 2021. (Frank Molter/dpa via AP) The Associated Press

Darmstadt's Serdar Dursun, second left, scores during the German 2. Bundesliga match between Holstein Kiel - Darmstadt 98 at Holstein-Stadion, Kiel, Germany, Sunday May 23, 2021. (Frank Molter/dpa via AP) The Associated Press

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