SV Darmstadt 98's relegation from the Bundesliga with three games still to play has been confirmed, having suffered a 1-0 loss to Heidenheim in Sunday's contest at Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor.
Die Lilien entered the clash needing to win to stand any chance of pulling off a great escape in the latter stages of the season.
It did appear that the clash with Heidenheim would finish 0-0, which would also have relegated Torsten Lieberknecht's side, but they ended up losing the fixture in the latter stages.
The only goal of the match was scored by Nikola Dovedan, with the 29-year-old turning a low cross from Christian Kuhlwetter into the back of the net from close range.
Darmstadt remain bottom of the table on 17 points, 11 points behind 16th-placed Mainz 05 with just three games left, so their relegtion to the second tier of German football has been confirmed.
Lieberknecht's side can still finish above FC Koln in 17th spot, but they are dropping straight back down to 2. Bundesliga following their promotion last term.
Darmstadt, who recorded a 2-0 victory over FC Koln last weekend to take their survival fight to another match, will tackle Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund in their final three games of the season.
Die Lilien have won just three of their 31 league matches this term, drawing eight and suffering 20 losses, while they have conceded 73 times, which is comfortably the worst defensive record in the division.
Matt Law
