Rick van Drongelen has had a very painful day with Hamburger SV. The defender led with a own goal to a 5-1 defeat against SV Sandhausen, causing HSV to miss the playoffs for promotion to the Bundesliga. To make matters worse, Van Drongelen also tore off the front cruciate ligament of his left knee.
21-year-old Van Drongelen had to be replaced after 36 minutes. The serious injury was revealed during examinations in the hospital. The former Sparta player has been out of circulation for at least six months.
HSV will play again in the second Bundesliga due to the loss next season. The former top club, which also includes Timo Letschert under contract, finished fourth in the competition for the second year in a row, one point behind the number three.
FC Heidenheim, which took over third place from HSV in a mutual game last week, can now prepare for the play-offs for promotion, in which the Werder Bremen of Davy Klaassen is the opponent. Arminia Bielefeld and VfB Stuttgart have already been promoted directly, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Paderborn have been relegated from the Bundesliga.
