COLOGNE, Germany (AP) " Kerem Demirbay scored in the third minute of injury time to qualify Hoffenheim for European football for the first time with a 1-1 draw at Cologne in the Bundesliga on Friday. Demirbay's late strike ensured third-place Hoffenheim cannot finish any lower than sixth, guaranteeing the side a spot in the Europa League at least next season, while the point may yet prove valuable in its quest for automatic Champions League qualification. Instead of moving fifth and level with Hertha Berlin, Cologne moved sixth, ahead of Freiburg on goal difference and two points behind Hertha " ahead of the rest of the 30th round. Still, a win for fourth-place Dortmund at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday would lift it a point above Hoffenheim, which is enjoying its best ever Bundesliga season. Third place in the Bundesliga guarantees Champions League participation the following season, while fourth place only secures a playoff for Europe's premier club competition.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 21, 2017 21:07 UTC