Relegation for Bochum, Mainz back in European spot | OneFootball

There was a celebratory mood at Ruhrstadion ahead of kickoff as Anthony Losilla bid farewell to the club after 11 years of service. However, the tension was palpable since Bochum needed to win both of the remaining games to stand any chance of survival.

Both sides created their first chances inside the first three minutes through their respective strikers, Jonathan Burkardt and Myron Boadu. Despite news coming from other stadiums that Heidenheim and Holstein Kiel are leading their games, Bochum keep pushing for the opening goal in the first half hour.

Although we’ve seen them pull a miracle last season, the club already accepted its fate as they decided to stick with Dieter Hecking next season.  And, their slender hope hit a further blow at the end of the half.Nadiem Amiri curled a beautiful free-kick to put Mainz ahead. The goal also had a big ramification in the race for Europe as the carnival city club hope to climb back to the top six of the standings.

Bochum continued to give it their all with Gerrit Holtmann nearly leveling the score in the first action of the second-half.  However, they conceded again when Phillipp Mwene took his time to beat Tim Horn in Bochum’s goal.

Burkardt made sure of the result with his 17th goal of the season as Mainz’s European hopes suddenly look promising. Meanwhile, Bochum fans jump up and down as if their club is winning promotion instead of relegation to the second-tier.

And they also celebrated the consolation goal wildly as Holtmann scored with a fine finish for his second goal of the season. However, the last big Bundesliga action of Ruhrstadion (for, at least, a year) was reserved for Mainz’s fourth goal as Paul Nebel restored their three-goal lead.

With Leipzig drew at Bremen, Mainz climbed to sixth, which will be enough for a place in European competition. Meanwhile, Bochum are finally relegated from the Bundesliga after their close shaves in recent seasons.