The final round of the Bundesliga season brought drama to the relegation battle, with three clubs competing for survival in the top league. In a direct clash, St. Pauli was defeated at home by Wolfsburg 1-3, securing the visitors 16th place and a chance to stay in the Bundesliga through a playoff, while the Hamburg club was relegated to the second division.

At the center of attention in this match was goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (30), whose autogol turned the game around. Vasilj is a representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the son of former Croatian national team player Vladimir Vasilj (50), who was a reserve in the 1998 World Cup squad led by Miroslav Blazevic and won a bronze medal with Croatia.

Heidenheim Eliminated, Decision Falls in Direct Clash

Before the final round, Wolfsburg, St. Pauli, and Heidenheim each had 26 points. Heidenheim played at Mainz, a match where the result was not crucial for Mainz, yet Mainz still secured a 2-0 victory, eliminating Heidenheim from the league.

This meant that the decision for the 16th place, which leads to a playoff against the third-placed club from the 2. Bundesliga, fell in the direct clash between St. Pauli and Wolfsburg. The home team needed a win, while a point was enough for Wolfsburg.

Tragic Autogol by Vasilj Altered the Match

The drama of the match reached its peak when St. Pauli equalized to 1-1 in the 57th minute, giving the home fans hope for a turnaround. However, the celebration was short-lived. Seven minutes later, after a corner kick, St. Pauli's goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj attempted to box the ball out but inadvertently scored an autogol, giving Wolfsburg the lead.

Main referee Daniel Siebert reviewed the play using VAR for a potential foul on the goalkeeper, but after the review, he confirmed the goal despite protests from Vasilj and his teammates. Watch the video HERE and share your thoughts on whether the goal that put Wolfsburg up 2-1 should have been overturned due to a foul on Vasilj.

Wolfsburg in Playoffs, Majer Enters Late

The final 3-1 victory for Wolfsburg was sealed by Dženan Pejčinović's goal in the 80th minute. With this win, Wolfsburg temporarily avoided relegation but will need to win a playoff to secure their top-flight status. Their opponent will be the third-placed team from the 2. Bundesliga, with Elversberg (60 points), Hannover (59), and Paderborn (59) competing for that spot. Croatian national team player Lovro Majer came on for Wolfsburg in the fourth minute of stoppage time.