Hamburg avoid ignominy of relegation

Hamburg avoided being relegated from the top flight of the German Bundesliga for the first time in their history after winning a play-off against Greuther Fuerth on away goals on Sunday. The first leg on Thursday between Hamburg -- who finished third bottom in the top flight -- and the second tier's third-placed side Fuerth was a goalless draw, and Sunday's return at the Trolli Arena ended 1-1. Pierre-Michel Lasogga crucially gave Mirko Slomka's side a 14th-minute lead in Bavaria, before Stephan Fuerstner equalised for Fuerth just before the hour. However, the home side could not find a winner and Hamburg hung on to survive as a top-flight side. The 1983 European champions will therefore remain the only club to have participated in the top flight in every season since the inauguration of the Bundesliga in 1963. Source: AFP