Arminia Bielefeld secured relegation with a draw against Halleschen FC on the penultimate matchday.
The two clubs drew 0-0 on Saturday afternoon. With a four point lead over Halle, which is in the first relegation spot, the 15th place in the table can. Bielefeld can no longer slip into a relegation zone. Should Waldhof Mannheim later win its game against SV Sandhausen, HFC’s relegation would be sealed.
It was a special game for Bielefeld’s captain Fabian Klos. The 36-year-old is ending his career after the season and played his last home game for Arminia on Saturday. He has worn the Ostwestfalen jersey since 2011 and scored 165 goals in 446 games. The fans celebrated Klos before kick-off with a great choreography.
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“We gave a legend a fitting farewell, others now have to follow in these footsteps,” said a relieved Arminia coach Mitch Kniat. “We got through a really hard time together. Today we were a little lucky at the end, but we’re happy about it.”
The fans of Arminia Bielefeld celebrate club legend Fabian Klos with a choreography in the game against Halle.
Good start from Halle – Arminia dangerous at set pieces
The guests had the first two options. After just three minutes, Halle’s Tom Baumgart fired the first shot from 19 meters into the top left corner, which Bielefeld’s keeper Jonas Kersken defused. Shortly afterwards, Meris Skenderovic (4th) finished after a through ball. Kersken deflected his low shot towards the near post around the post.
After the fast-paced initial phase, the game calmed down. The two teams met on equal terms, but the game often lacked accuracy and penetration. The next opportunity in the game came in the 36th minute with an Arminia free kick from the left half of the field: Klos chested the ball in the penalty area for Louis Oppie, whose shot from six meters was brilliantly hit by the towering HFC keeper Sven Müller was repelled.
On the following corner, Klos (37′) didn’t get enough pressure on his header – just like he did with a corner five minutes later. Shortly before the break, Bielefeld became dangerous again, again after a corner. This time Marius Wörl (45th) narrowly missed after a header extension to the far post.
Accuracy is also lacking after the break
After the half-time break, Bielefeld remained the dominant team. Klos headed a cross from the halffield to Wörl (51′) in the six-yard box, whose header was cleared by goalkeeper Müller. A few minutes later, Wörl (55′) narrowly missed the ball after a cross to the far post.
With another attack from the left side, Oppie sent a cross into the middle to Klos (65′), who was again denied by Müller with a header. In the last 20 minutes, Halle became more offensive, Jonas Nietfeld (78th) headed past the left post after a corner. Bielefeld defended well, but in injury time the Bielefeld fans had to tremble again: Henry Crosthwaite (90th + 2) appeared free in front of Kersken and failed with a low shot on the post.