FC Köln beat VfL Bochum 1-0 in a thrilling match on Saturday evening at the RheinEnergieStadion. The victory was all the more impressive as it came after FC Köln had already secured their place in the Bundesliga next season.
Modeste's late goal secured Bochum's relegation to the second division for another season. The striker scored the only goal of the game in the 89th minute, with his effort sending the home fans into rapturous applause.
The defeat leaves Bochum in the bottom three places and ensures that they will be relegated from the Bundesliga. It is a disappointing end to the season for the club, who were hoping to avoid the drop for the first time since 2014.
Despite the loss, there were still positives to take away from the match. FC Köln showed their class by dominating possession and creating numerous chances, while Bochum struggled to find any clear-cut opportunities.
Overall, it was a hard-fought encounter between two teams who both know what it takes to win in the German top flight. While FC Köln emerged victorious, Bochum's relegation puts an end to their hopes of survival and sets them back a step towards the future.