Demotion to a lower division or rank - Vfl Bochum Remains Elite Following Exciting Clash with Düsseldorf
The players of Fortuna Düsseldorf were mostly focused on their teammate and unfortunate casualty, Takashi Uchino, after the drama with the penalties. The opponents from VfL Bochum were almost too drained to celebrate uncontrollably. Through an astonishing display of energy in an exhilarating relegation match, the third-placed team in the Bundesliga from Bochum managed to achieve the feat of preserving their class standing and stealing the desired promotion to the Bundesliga from Fortuna Düsseldorf in the last second. "Today, everyone is a hero," said the top player from Bochum, Kevin Stöger, on Sky.
"Nobody believed in us anymore," said the managing director of VfL, Patrick Fabian. "That's why I'm incredibly proud of the guys. I'm overjoyed for the city, for the club, for the fans." Fortuna's sports director, Klaus Allofs, pledged, "We won't give up. We'll try again." It was a young team that had accomplished something extraordinary. For Fortuna, the promotion would have been a significant advance. Following a nearly hopeless 0:3 deficit from the first leg, the Bochumers turned the relegation game with a 6:5 win in the penalty shootout. Uchino from Fortuna missed the crucial penalty in the overall twelfth penalty. After regular time and the extension, it was 3:0 (1:0) on Monday evening. In regular time, Philipp Hofmann scored in the 18th minute and 66th minute, and Kevin Stöger scored a penalty in the 70th minute, forcing the extension. Among the jubilant fans of Fortuna in the stadium, there was stunned silence when the guests celebrated their sensational triumph on the field. Many bars in the city broadcast the game live and were packed. Two hours before the match, there was a kilometer-long fan march to the stadium. Düsseldorf had been anticipating Bundesliga football once again after four years of abstinence. However, the premature celebration did not last until the end. The Düsseldorfers, in fact, relinquished the almost guaranteed promotion. The Bochumers, on the other hand, could barely believe their good fortune, but made the most of their opportunities.
On the field, the guests set the pace. Interim coach Heiko Butscher changed his team on three positions and brought back captain, Anthony Losilla, into the starting lineup. The Bochumers were the dominant team and had their initial significant opportunity and the leading goal through Hofmann, who scored from a header after a free kick from the outstanding Stöger.
The hosts had been rather defensive until then and only generated a few offensive scenarios through counterattacks and striker, Christos Tzolis. Coach Daniel Thioune, as anticipated, nominated the starting lineup that had won so convincingly in Bochum on Thursday. It took the goal to awaken the Düsseldorfers.
After thirty minutes, Vincent Vermeij had the equalizing chance but missed narrowly. The pressure increased, and the enthusiasm from the stands grew louder. Driven by the intense Marcel Sobottka, the Rhinelanders had some good offensive opportunities. Nevertheless, Tzolis, Fortuna's striker, was unsuccessful, and his corner kicks were not much of a threat this time.
On the other hand, midfielder, Hofmann managed to score the decisive 2-0 goal again, thanks to a cross from Stoeger. Then, VfL Oberwasser was awarded a penalty kick, as Matthias Zimmermann had touched the ball with his hands in the penalty area. Stöger calmly converted the penalty kick, and Fortuna's goalkeeper, Florian Kastenmeier, had no chance.
As a result, Fortuna Düsseldorf will stay in the 2nd League next year and will have to put to rest their aspirations of promotion. The planned celebrations had to be canceled. The squad will probably emerge without its best players like Tzolis next season and face tough competition in their quest to rejoin the Bundesliga. The Bochumers, on the other hand, can prepare for their fourth consecutive year in the 2nd League but will also need to reorganize themselves in their coaching staff.
Fortuna Düsseldorf squad VfL Bochum squad.
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Source: www.stern.de
