BERLIN: Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer hailed an “amazing” achievement as his side stunned top-four hopefuls Freiburg with a 4-1 win on Saturday to seal a top-seven finish on a dramatic day in the Bundesliga’s race for Europe.

Minnows Freiburg and Union have both been flying high this season, but it was the side from the capital who soared on Saturday as they smashed in three first-half goals to put themselves on course for the Europa Lea­gue in sixth and dent Frei­burg’s hopes of a fairytale Champions League berth.

Union, who were only promoted in 2019, still have an outside chance of reaching the Champions League, having moved within a point of Freiburg with one match remaining.

Proemel gave Union the lead early on, bundling the ball over the line from close range after Taiwo Awoniyi’s effort hit the post.

Lucas Hoeler had an equaliser ruled out for handball before Union captain Christopher Trimmel headed in Sheraldo Becker’s cross on the half-hour mark.

Becker then rampaged down the right wing to give his side a 3-0 lead at half-time and leave the home fans shellshocked.

Hoeler gave Freiburg fresh hope on the hour mark when he wriggled free of the back line to poke a long ball into the bottom corner.

But substitute Andras Schafer added a fourth for Union to end any hopes of a home comeback.

While Freiburg were left to a rue a missed opportunity, third-placed Bayer Leverkusen secured Champions League qualification as Czech striker Patrik Schick fired them to a 4-2 win at Hoffenheim.

French striker Georginio Rutter gave Hoffenheim an early lead after a mistake from Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.

Schick then brought the visitors level with an elegant, first-time finish, but Christoph Baumgartner res­tored the lead with a header just two minutes later.

Yet Leverkusen turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes in the second half.

Moussa Diaby slotted in an equaliser on 73 minutes, and Schick danced through the box to make it 3-2 mo­ments later before Lucas Alario struck in stoppage time.

Hoffenheim’s defeat means that Cologne are also effectively guaranteed European football next season with a top-seven finish, despite losing 1-0 at home to Wolfsburg.

Former Cologne player Yannick Gerhardt scored just before half-time to give Wolfsburg an unexpected win.

Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Hertha Berlin missed the chance to clinch survival with a 2-1 defeat at home to Mainz.

Borussia Dortmund cru­i­sed to a 3-1 win against rele­gated side Greuther Fuerth to secure second place.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2022