Hamburg, May 24 (BNA): Hertha Berlin retained its place in the Premier League by defeating second-tier Hamburg 2-0 in the return leg of the Bundesliga promotion and relegation qualifiers on Monday to secure a 2-1 aggregate win with goals. Dedric Boyata and Marvin Platnhardt.
Reuters reported that Ludovit Reis’s shot in the first leg gave Hamburg a slight advantage and opened the door to a return to the Premier League, but Hertha equalized four minutes into the second leg when captain Boyata nodded Blatthardt’s corner.
Then Platthardt doubled his lead an hour later, hitting the net with a direct free kick from a tight angle that caught goalkeeper Daniel Fernandez by surprise as the ball passed over his outstretched arm into the top corner.
On a tense end to the match, Hertha played the final seconds with ten men after midfielder Lucas Tousart was shown a second yellow card.
But it didn’t matter as the Berlin side managed by Felix Magath – one of Hamburg’s greatest in his playing days – sent his former club into another season in the second division.
Hertha, who was facing seventh relegation, had finished 16th in the Bundesliga to go into the playoffs. Greether Fuerth and Armenia Bielefeld are relegated from the first division.
Hamburg was looking forward to a return to the First Division after a four-year absence. They finished third in the second division, with champions Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen winning promotion.