The most thrilling battle for relegation in history.

The most legendary survival battle of all time

VfL Bochum may seem doomed, but they're making the most of it. Despite an unfortunate 0:3 loss in the first leg, they remain in the Bundesliga thanks to Fortuna Dusseldorf's impressive comeback. The turnaround may not be dramatic, but it casts a spell all the same.

When it comes to insanity, some say it can't be increased, but the VfL Bochum has proved that assumption wrong. They rose from the ashes on a late Monday night and pulled off a feat that many doubted was possible. At Fortuna Dusseldorf, they erased their 0:3 deficit from the relegation first leg held earlier on Thursday, clinching a thrilling penalty shootout victory. At 23:17, Takashi Uchino kickstarted the celebrations by scoring a powerful shot over Bochum's goal, and the entire world of Fortuna came crumbling down. Tears flowed everywhere.

The Bochum team's victory created a stark contrast with the desolate scene at Fortuna. Goalkeeper Andreas Luthe stood up and sprinted towards the left curve of his own fans, followed by the fastest player in the VfL squad, Tim Oermann. All the other playersili followied, crashing into a wall of police officers who were protecting the winners. For a moment, it seemed unnecessary, as the Dusseldorfers were utterly stoic. Time seemed to stand still, and the stadium fell silent. No whistles, no applause – only the chants of Bochum. These two worlds, so distant from each other, were a testament to the remarkable battles that had taken place between these teams.

The players from Bochum could only describe this unexpected turn of events as madness. The excited captain, Anthony Losilla, searched for a similar experience in his football career and found none. Meanwhile, Tim Oermann danced, celebrated, and revelled in his elation. Madness, they said, was everywhere – in the stadium, in the Bermuda Triangle, the party mile of the city. Tuesday morning almost seemed non-existent as the post-match revelry stretched on past three o'clock. Even the possibility that some players had booked their flights for 10 a.m. on Tuesday was irrelevant.

The VfL Bochum will continue to play in the Bundesliga for the fourth consecutive season. "Year 4 with you and us" was written on the shirts the players wore after the incredible featthey accomplished. Despite the initial disbelief, many must have known deep down that they could do it. The shirts had been in the club's archive, and they weren't distributed until after the miracle.

With its narrow escape from relegation, VfL has exhausted every ounce of emotional exhaustion. In their first season back in the top division two years ago, they quickly settled matters and confirmed their class maintenance by the summer of 2023. On the last day of the season, they denied the mighty Bayer Leverkusen a spot in the championship, becoming the sole German team to beat this formidable side. And now, they've pulled off a night that had echoes of the BVB saga. "Today, we are all heroes," Kevin Stöger, the playmaker, acknowledged. "Respect for every player and the coaching team. Respect for our positive, wild fans. I've always said that the club deserves to be in the first league. We've made it together. It's simply incredible."

It's hard to believe that Fortuna would crumble, but as the first leg disappeared farther into the past, the belief in the unfathomable grew stronger in Bochum. And as time went on, the dread of a potential disaster gripped the Dusseldorf players, who had recently been so insistent about their place in the top league. It seemed to fade away with every passing minute – everything went according to plan. The skilful Matus Bero kicked the ball, but Ao Tanaka intercepted, shooting, and missing the goalpost (1.). The stadium erupted in shock. At the kick-off, Fortuna had made a solemn oath to return to the first league, and four years of abstinence had passed. Ecke's header ends up in the hands of Vincent Vermeij, who fell alone. An early goal that sealed Bochum's fate.

The Bochumer team had only one option left: a full-out attack on Lotte. They aimed to become heroes or die with honor. After their 0:3 loss on Thursday at the Ruhrstadion's catacombs, responsible individuals appealed to the players' attitude and honor. And the footballers responded. Leading the way was Kevin Stöger, who had pulled off a miracle but was both admired and laughed at for his surprisingly courageous words. Stöger, who is likely to leave the club, put in tremendous effort to prove that he truly believed in great things. He touched the ball an incredible 168 times, sometimes elegantly and other times robustly, getting out of tight spots. In the 18th minute, he struck a free kick into the penalty area, which found its way to striker Philipp Hofmann, who scored - 0:1. Faith was starting to grow, but fear still lingered. A complete collapse was not yet in view, but the players' heads and legs were weighed down.

The stadium struggled to counter the fatigue, but it was a losing battle. The ball did not remain under Tanaka's feet, who had all the freedom in the beginning of the game in the first leg. The ball rarely reached Christos Tzolis, who had single-handedly led VfL on Thursday. And whenever Tzolis tried to take action, defenders Oermann, Losilla, or Bero would swarm him. At times, they even swarmed him in pairs or trios. The Bochum team, still processing the season's significant turmoil (including the Manuel-Riemann conflict) and preparing for significant changes in their squad, management, and potentially even their sporting leadership, learned their lesson well - they aimed at the heart and soul of the opponents, draining the Rhinelanders' energy. During the game, VfL shifted between different systems. Daschner, whose eleven-starting performance was praised for courage and enthusiasm, played on the wing at times, at others alongside Hofmann in the center. He was a wildcard that disoriented Dusseldorf players.

Bochum pressed on. Schlotterbeck nearly scored just before halftime (41.), Daschner coming even closer (44.). The first half ended. The "Hard Way" of the Dusseldorf punk band "Broilers" echoed through the speakers. And how difficult it became. As soon as the whistle blew, Daschner was there again, his shot almost shots. On the terraces, it was silent. Growing fear. In the 59th minute, VfL made substitutions, bringing on Asano and Loosli. Both would play crucial roles. Fortuna wavered, fans cheered loudly. The Rhinelanders seemed to seize momentum for a moment, then Stöger swung in again, sending it to Hofmann - 0:2 (66.). Everything in blue stormed onto the field - the miracle was within reach. And Zimmermann extended his arm, in the penalty area. Stöger, of course Stöger, who played for the Rhinelanders during the last Fortuna relegation, had assisted one more time, signaling: That was offside! Penalty, Stöger, goal - 0:3 (70.). Bedlam ensued. Jubilation. Terror. Onward.

"This will go down in club history"

Asano's head, keeper Kastenmeier saves valiantly (72.). The fear of making a mistake is palpable, Bochum takes a bit of pressure off, the players' maximum effort left its mark. Just before the final whistle, Asano outran a cross from Osterhage. His lucky strike was just a few centimeters short. Struggle here, struggle there. The final whistle approached. Then, Asano broke through. The 22-year-old player was all alone. The stadium held its breath. Bochum's last-minute comebacks are well-known. But Tzolis hit the ball too far forward, Ordets swept it away. Corner, it landed at Niemiec, who failed to connect with Asano's leg. In a swift action, Loosli charged towards the empty goal. He saved the day with his most significant moment in the VfL jersey. The Bochum team refused to give up until the final second, remaining composed and focused. Their struggles, fear, and determination combined for a legendary comeback.

In a penalty shootout, Luthe denies the initial attempt. Erhan Masovic misses the third. Capable shooters exhibit no signs of anxiety until Uchino steps up to the plate. The night sky, Düsseldorf screams, Bochum escalates. In the crowd, the pyro flares burn, in the center, Felix Passlack, Maximilian Wittek, and Captain Losilla. The crowd is bewildered. Insanity. Incredible insanity. "The VfL Bochum will never sink," boasted Keven Schlotterbeck on Thursday. The seemingly lifeless team sprung back to life. "The crazies who still believed in us couldn't contain their emotion," said Luthe. "We saw a team that was completely dedicated to it. The fact that something like this was possible is a part of the club's history." Just like Luthe, who declared his retirement after the match. At the most opportune moment.