Hamburger SV secured their Bundesliga status through the relegation play-off for a second consecutive season. In a dramatic game, it was Nicolai Müller's extra-time winner that proved the crucial goal.
The game was finely poised and the largely similar line-ups from the first leg reflected that. Both managers made just two alterations to their line-ups. Markus Kauczinski opted for Hiroki Yamada instead of Reinhold Yabo, while Gaetan Krebs came in for Dominic Peitz - who collected his tenth yellow card in the return leg.
Bruno Labbadia was forced in to making his pair of changes. Rafael Van der Vaart and Dennis Diekmeier replaced the suspended duo of Gojko Kačar & Heiko Westermann (both 5 yellows).
Karlsruhe began the game very brightly and it was their wing play that was, once again, causing problems. Manuel Torres and Enrico Valentini both had good early crossing opportunities, although neither could find Rouwen Hennings. HSV did respond and both Ivo Ilicevic and Ivica Olic went close for the Bundesliga side in quick succession.
The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and dominate possession, a complete turnaround from last week's game. Philipp Max made a great block from Pierre-Michel Lasogga's drive, before van der Vaart had his effort easily held by Dirk Orlishausen.
However they were tasked with breaking down a stubborn Karlsruhe side, and they still had the ability to hit their first division hosts on the break. Yamada finally had an attempt at goal for the hosts but it was comfortable for René Adler.
Neither side could find a way through in the first half and, despite the bright beginning, HSV couldn't make their dominance pay dividends. Daniel Gordon had a chance to open the scoring just before the half-time whistle, only for it to drift just over the bar.
Both teams had chances to break the deadlock after the break and the best of those fell to Lasogga. Van der Vaart's corner found its way to the powerful forward, though he blazed his half-volley well over the bar.
Karlsruhe's first real opportunity arrived on the hour mark. Hennings' delivery forced a last ditch clearance from Johan Djourou and Valentini's cross was knocked just past the post by Dimitri Nazarov in the same phase of play.
The troublesome winger had a powerful drive parried by Adler a few minutes later, as Karlsruhe cranked up the volume and pressure inside the Wildparkstadion. The resulting corner brought another chance. This time, Marcelo Diaz was required to thump Manuel Gulde's header off the line - the hosts had taken control.
Lasogga was the dangerman for HSV but even his best headed attempt was brilliantly stopped by Orlishausen. Time continued to tick on, so did HSV's clock, but that would all change.
Hennings' magnificent through-ball found Yabo clear on goal, and the tireless midfielder was able to slot the ball under Adler and send the home fans into a frenzy. They could hardly believe it and the advantage was almost wiped out immediately, only for the post and Gordon's goal line clearance to deny them an equaliser.
Cleber and co. continue to pelt the Karlsruhe net, yet there was no goal. It looked to be the end, for HSV and the record, though Diaz had the last laugh. His free-kick, which was wrongfully awarded for an apparent handball, drifted up and over the wall and found the top corner. The away end went, simply, crazy.
The first-half of extra-time flew by, with little or no action to report on. Nazarov had the only effort of note but he couldn't take advantage of a quick free-kick and flashed his effort just wide of the far post. A further fifteen minutes did, however, provide the winner.
Time was drawing to a close and Cleber, somehow, found himself driving down the left. He squared the ball to Nicolai Müller and he tapped into the open net to send the visiting fans into rapture. Hennings then had a debatable penalty saved by Adler, as Manuel Gräfe's decisions continued to baffle one and all. The 53rd season in the Bundesliga was secured, though Karlsruhe will feel extremely hard done by.