Frankfurt relegated with loss at champions Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund received the Bundesliga trophy after a 3-1 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt in Saturday's season finale which sent the visitors into the second division.

   In a contrast of emotions, Dortmund captain Roman Weidenfeller lifted the large silver plate in front of 80,000 jubilant fans as Frankfurt cried bitter tears over their fourth drop.

   Frankfurt led from Sebastian Rode's goal seconds after the restart, but Lucas Barrios' 68th and 90th-minute double and an own goal from Aleksandar Vasoski sealed their fate even though Ralf Faehrmann saved penalties from Barrios and Dede.

   Frankfurt, who had Marcel Titsch Rivero sent off, joined bottom club St Pauli Hamburg in division two after a free fall from seventh place at the half-way stage with just one victory in the second half of the season, and not even new coach Christoph Daum able to save them.

   "I hoped for a long time but knew when the red card was given it was over," said Frankfurt boss Heribert Bruchhagen. "Now our planning for the new season starts. I am convinced we will be back in a year's time."

   VfL Wolfsburg saved themselves with a 3-1 comeback victory at Hoffenheim to finish 15th while Borussia Moenchengladbach, who drew 1-1 at SV Hamburg, remained 16th. They will play a two-legged relegation/promotion tie against the third-placed second division side.

   Bayer Leverkusen secured second place and direct Champions League entry with a 1-0 at SC Freiburg. Bayern Munich, 2-1 winners over VfB Stuttgart, will go into Champions League qualifying in third place.

   Hanover defeated Nuremberg 3-1 to finish a club-best fourth for a place in the Europa League along with Mainz, 2-1 winners over St Pauli. Cologne defeated Schalke 2-1 and Kaiserslautern won 3-2 against Werder Bremen.

   With the title decided, the fight against relegation took centre stage on the final day and there were several twists before the fate of Wolfsburg, Moenchengladbach and Frankfurt was decided.

   In Dortmund, Faehrmann saved a 12th-minute penalty from Barrios and the visitors got a lifeline when Rode headed them into the lead seconds after the restart - with Wolfsburg doomed at the time.

   But Barrios levelled in the 68th, Vasoski hit his own net four minutes later under pressure from Robert Lewandowski, and Barrios wrapped up matters in the end for Dortmund.

   Before the final goal, Faehrmann saved another penalty from outgoing Brazilian fan favourite Dede, meaning that Dortmund missed all five penalties they were awarded this season.

Titsch Rivero was sent off for the foul that set up the spot kick less than 60 seconds after coming on as a substitute.

"I am very disappointed. This club belongs into the first division," said Daum.

   The 2009 champions Wolfsburg made headlines for the wrong reasons before the game in Hoffenheim as Brazilian playmaker Diego walked out in disgust about not being fielded as a starter.

   But they regrouped in the match after falling behind from Roberto Firmino in the 49th, with Mario Mandzukic on target in the 60th and 74th and Sascha Riether wrapping up matters for Felix Magath's side.

"I am very relieved and emotional after these 90 dramatic minutes. It was a difficult period over the last games," said Magath.

   Moenchengladbach, meanwhile, got a lifeline after being dead last seven points from safety ahead of the final four rounds. They led from Juan Arango's curling free-kick before Aenis Ben-Hatira levelled for mid-table Hamburg.

"It will be difficult, the pressure will be on us," said Moenchengladbach coach Lucien Favre, looking ahead at the playoff against probably Bochum or Fuerth.

   Juergen Klopp's impressive Dortmund topped the final standings with 75 points from Leverkusen (68) and Munich (65), who ended a rocky ride with the win over Stuttgart from strikes by league top scorer Mario Gomez (28 goals) and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

"We have no reason to celebrate. We won no title and only reached our minimum goal," said Munich's caretaker coach Andries Jonker after his final game.

   Dortmund's big title celebration party, meanwhile, is scheduled for Sunday.