Freiburg on course

Freiburg midfielder Jonathan Schmid (L) scores the third goal against Hanover during their Bundesliga encounter in Freiburg on Friday. Photo: AFP

Freiburg boosted their chances of European football next season by easing past visitors Hanover 96 3-1 on Friday to tighten their hold on fifth spot in the Bundesliga with five games left.
The win puts Freiburg level on 45 points with Schalke 04, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place, and takes them three points ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt who visit lowly FC Augsburg on Sunday.
An early own goal by Hanover's Christian Schulz and strikes by Max Kruse just before the break and Jonathan Schmid late in the game earned Freiburg the points.
Schulz's bizarre own goal, after Hanover keeper Ron-Robert Zieler fluffed a seemingly harmless cross, put Freiburg in the driving seat after 24 minutes.
Zieler completely misjudged the ball and the surprised Schulz, standing at the far post, watched the ball bounce off his foot into the net.
Freiburg, outstanding this season under 2012 coach of the year Christian Streich, had been the better side from the start but 12 minutes later it was their turn to give away a goal.
A poor back-header from defender Pavel Krmas for keeper Oliver Baumann was intercepted by Mame Diouf who crossed to Konstantin Rausch for the equaliser.