AMSTERDAM – Jermaine Jones notched an assist on the second-half winner as Schalke claimed the Bundesliga's last Champions League berth with a 2-1 victory at Freiburg on Saturday.
In the 58th minute, the US international breached the right side of the area thanks to a lead pass from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Jones quickly teed up a right-footed shot that appeared to be headed just wide of the far post when Freiburg midfielder Julian Schuster comically bundled into his own net.
Though a draw ended up being enough to clinch the Champions League return, Schalke won for the fourth time in six road games.
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Around the league, Fabian Johnson went the distance as Hoffenheim hit twice late for a 2-1 triumph at Borussia Dortmund that gave them a shot at Bundesliga survival.
Sejad Salihović converted from the spot in the 77th and 82nd minutes to give the visitors their first-ever victory at Dortmund. More importantly, the result lifted Hoffenheim into a promotion/relegation playoff with 2.Bundesliga third-place finishers FC Kaiserslautern.
Doing compatriots Johnson and Daniel Williams a favor, Steve Cherundolo set up the winner in his 300th Bundesliga appearance as Hannover 96 enjoyed a 3-0 waltz past visiting Fortuna Düsseldorf.
The skipper picked out Miram Bire Diouf with a right-flank cross and the striker made no mistake to put the Reds ahead to stay seven minutes shy of halftime. The win ensured Hannover of a ninth-place finish, their third in a row in the top 10.
Next door in Austria, Terrence Boyd went 77 minutes as Rapid Vienna's struggles continued with a 2-0 defeat at Mattersburg.
The US forward nearly tied the game at one just past the hour mark, only to have the home netminder tip his shot over. Third-place Rapid have won just twice in 15 games since the winter break.
