THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS in the Bundesliga is set to increase by at least one as Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt clinched promotion on Sunday with a 2-1 win over R.B. Leipzig in front of a sold out crowd at Ingolstadt’s Audi Sportspark. 

Morales, 25, did not start the game but entered for Robert Bauer in the 39^th minute with Ingolstadt trailing 1-0. Ingolstadt equalized just before halftime on a Matthew Leckie penalty.  

In the 79th minute, Morales played a part in the historic win when he assisted on the Stefan Lex goal that lifted Ingolstadt to a 2-1 win. The three points clinched first place in the 2.Bundesliga and Ingolstadt, a club which was founded in just 2004, will make its first ever appearance in the Bundesliga in 2015-16.

The club was not expected to earn promotion this season but it defied expectations with consistent play and a strong record on the road. The Bavarian club has been ambitious since its founding with consistent promotions after it began in the fifth tier Oberliga. Eleven years later, the Bundesliga awaits 

Morales finished the season with 32 appearances and 30 starts. He played 2,601 minutes over the course of the year and scored two goals. 

This will not be the first time Morales has played in the Bundesliga. In the 2011-12 season he made eight appearances for 276 minutes for Hertha Berlin who were relegated that season. Next season with Ingolstadt, Morales will liked be expected to play a much bigger role since he was a core player in their promotional effort. 

Morales enjoyed a strong season and has put himself into contention to make the United States Gold Cup team. He performed well in a recent friendly against Switzerland where the U.S. team drew 1-1. In his international career, he has eight caps and made his debut in January 2013, playing in a scoreless draw against Canada.