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The visitors celebrate, Bielefeld mourns: Wehen Wiesbaden also wins the relegation second leg

Photo: IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

From Bundesliga club to third division club in just twelve months: The brutal crash of Arminia Bielefeld is sealed after a year full of bankruptcies, bad luck and mishaps. The East Westphalians were defeated by SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the relegation second leg 1:2 (1:2) and were passed through as before only neighbor SC Paderborn 2016. Wehen, who triumphed 4-0 in the first leg, are fully deserved in their fourth season in the second division thanks to a brace from Benedict Hollerbach.

After all, after the riots of Bielefeld fans in Wiesbaden, it remained largely quiet on the alpine pasture for the time being. The first leg had been cancelled due to riots by Arminia fans.

Captain Fabian Klos (4th) briefly gave Arminia hope for the football miracle with his 171st goal in his 420th game for his favourite club. But Hollerbach (35th/45th+2), who is about to move to Cologne, set the course for Wehen's return to the second division after three years in the third division.

The mood among the 24,000 spectators was initially hostile and directed against their own team. "We're Arminen and you're not!" resounded the pros as they warmed up. When the team line-up was read out, there was a whistling concert.

Coach Uwe Koschinat emphasized that the team had to "nibble from day one" at the goal of direct promotion. There has never been a clear hierarchy behind Fabian Klos«, the fan idol has been »pushed to the sidelines«.

The coach, whose future is open, brought five newcomers around Klos, "fresh forces who deal with the overall situation unused". The goal: "To win back the fans who are ready for reconciliation with the absolute will in small steps," he said on Sat.1.

A counterattack destroys all hope

The lead after a goalkeeper error by Florian Stritzel was a start. Bielefeld kept at it, Oliver Hüsing (26th) headed against the crossbar. But with the counterattack to make it 1-1, the last belief was gone, the mood soon became eerily calm. "Except Fabi, you can all go," the fans chanted in the closing stages.

In the second half, 16-year-old attacker Henrik Koch gave a glimpse into the possible future of Arminia on his professional debut. But whether the designated new sporting director Michael Mutzel will succeed in keeping him is open, like many things.

Wehen Wiesbaden can now celebrate in the second attempt. The Hessians had already celebrated promotion with their fans on the pitch on the last third league matchday, but were then overtaken by VfL Osnabrück. Now the supporters who had travelled with them celebrated a big party in the guest block during the game. For the club, it is the third promotion to the second division after 2007 and 2019.

phw/sid/dpa