Australia NewsJosh Brace Not Enough |
SOCCEROO Joshua Kennedy finally scored but it wasn't enough to help his Bundesliga side Karlsruhe SC avoid the drop despite a 4-0 win over Hertha Berlin on the final day of the season.
Kennedy, who incredibly hadn't scored all season for Karlsruhe, saved his best form for last with a second-half brace but it was a case of too little too late for KSC who drop down to the 2.Bundesliga.
Coming into the final day, Karlsruhe knew they had to win and hope fellow battlers Arminia Bielefeld and Energie Cottbus failed to claim victory in their respective contests, in order to finish 16th and earn a shot at staying in the top flight with a playoff match against the 3rd-ranked 2.Bundesliga side.
But early on it seemed Karlsruhe had no hope of staying up as they began the match nervously, with Hertha having the better chances including a Marko Pantelic header which went close.
But as the half wore on Karlsruhe got more comfortable and they took the lead on 33 minutes when Stefano Celozzi's low cross missed Kennedy but found its way to Sebastian Freis and he finished off from close-range.
Seven minutes later Karlsruhe captain Maik Franz headed the Baden-Württemberg club into a two-goal lead when he met Lars Stindl's corner sweetly.
At that stage it seemed Kennedy's bad goalscoring luck would continue as Franz had actually swooped ahead of the Australian to score KSC's second from the set-piece.
But the big Socceroo would break his duck in the second-half when Celozzi's right-wing cross reached him and he slid a volley into the roof of the net from close-range.
On 71 minutes Kennedy almost made it a personal double when he curled an effort on target only to be denied by a fine save from Hertha keeper Jaroslav Drobny.
From the resultant corner though, Kennedy outjumped Hertha's Australian-born defender Josip Simunic and fired a header past Drobny to make it 4-0.
The Aussie had a late chance to complete a hat-trick when Freis played him in but his shot from a one-on-one situation was well saved by Drobny and the linesman's flag had actually gone up for offside as well.
After the final whistle at Karlsruhe's Wildparkstadion it became apparent Energie Cottbus had won their game and KSC were relegated setting off scenes of disappointment.
Kennedy, who has been linked with a move away from Karlsruhe, may have played his last game for the club.
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