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Promotion-relegation

May 29, 2009

Nuremberg won 3-0 at Energie Cottbus in the first leg of a Bundesliga playoff tie on Thursday to all but assure themselves of a return to German soccer's top flight.

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Nuremberg's Isaac Boakye, center, celebrates with team mates
Isaac Boakye scored a pair in Nuremberg's victoryImage: AP

Isaac Boakye scored in the 12th and 89th minutes, and Christian Eigler was on target in the 55th, while Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer made several good saves to earn the victory.

The two sides meet again on Sunday, when Nuremberg host Cottbus in a bid to seal their return to the Bundesliga after one season in the second division.

If Cottbus fail to reverse the three-goal deficit in the second-leg, they will be relegated, leaving the top flight without any teams from the former East Germany. Cottbus won promotion to the Bundesliga three seasons ago.

Nuremberg finished third in the second division this season, while Cottbus were third-last in the Bundesliga.

SC Freiburg and Mainz 05 finished one-two in the second division to secure automatic promotion, while Arminia Bielefeld and SC Karlsruhe are on their way to division two after finishing last and second-last in the Bundesliga.

dfm/dpa/AFP

Editor: Chuck Penfold

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