KIEL: Robin Knoche crushed Holstein Kiel’s dreams of promotion on Monday, as his header fired VfL Wolfsburg to a 1-0 win in the second leg of the relegation play-off, securing Bundesliga survival.

Knoche’s header 15 minutes from time ended a spirited resistance from underdogs Kiel, and saw the 2009 Bundesliga champions escape relegation in the play-off for a second successive season. Champions League quarter-finalists just two years ago, Wolfsburg’s experience saw them through as they ground out a 4-1 aggregate win over minnows Kiel.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, the odds were stacked against Kiel, who only earned promotion to the second tier at the end of last season.

Kiel, who came into the tie as the second division’s top scorers, were missing attacking midfielder Dominick Drexler, who was sidelined with an injury, and rarely threatened. Kiel attacked bravely but failed to find a way through the visitors’ defence.

The Wolves, owned by car maker Volkswagen, had clinched 16th place in the final game of yet another disappointing season in which Cologne and Hamburg SV were relegated.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018