Hannover send Düsseldorf down
Hanover - Fortuna Düsseldorf were condemned to relegation to Bundesliga 2 off the back of a 12th straight game without a win, this time going down to a 3-0 defeat at Hannover 96.
Results condemning Fortuna
Hannover had nothing but pride to play for, but that seemed to be enough to inspire them against a nervous-looking Düsseldorf.
Mame Diouf put them in front ten minutes before half time when he got a touch to Steven Cherundolo’s low cross and beat Fabian Giefer with a low shot.
With Augsburg leading against Greuther Fürth, Fortuna knew they had to respond in the second half to at least match the Bavarians’ result. Yet there was little sign of Norbert Meier’s men obliging, though, as Hannover found their ruthless streak. Didier Ya Konan put the Reds two ahead on the hour mark with Diouf this time turning provider for the Ivory Coast striker, whose cool finish froze Fortuna.
The guests had to gamble, but this just made them even more susceptible with Ya Konan grabbing his second and Hannover’s third in the 76th minute from Lars Stindl’s pass. Fortuna were therefore reliant on results elsewhere, and the news was not good - Hoffenheim had turned the tables on Borussia Dortmund to condemn Düsseldorf to an immediate return to the second tier.
Line-ups and statistics
