Cologne earn Bundesliga promotion with 4-0 win over Kaiserlautern
Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1.FC Kaiserslautern - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 18, 2025 FC Cologne fans are seen in the stands REUTERS/Leon Kuegele
Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1.FC Kaiserslautern - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 18, 2025 FC Cologne's Luca Waldschmidt celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler
BERLIN - Cologne won promotion to the Bundesliga on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over visitors Kaiserlautern that ensured they finished in top spot in the second division.
The three-time Bundesliga champions scored twice in the first 29 minutes with goals from Eric Martel and Luca Waldschmidt to put the game to bed.
They added a third goal with Florian Kainz in the 76th before retiring Mark Uth struck three minutes before the end to punch their ticket back to the Bundesliga a year after their relegation.
Cologne return to top flight football along with already-promoted Hamburg SV, who lost 3-2 to Greuther Fuerth to finish on 59 points, two behind Cologne.
Elversberg, in third place, will go into a promotion/relegation playoff against Heidenheim, who finished in 16th place in the Bundesliga. REUTERS
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