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Düsseldorf. VfL Bochum celebrates staying in the league in dramatic fashion! After a penalty shoot-out, VfL remains in the Bundesliga.
The miracle is done, VfL Bochum keeps the class! Despite a 3-0 deficit from the first leg against Fortuna Düsseldorf, Heiko Butscher’s team really turned up the heat, scratched, bit and won the second leg in an emotional way in a penalty shoot-out because Fortuna’s Takashi Uchino missed the last penalty. The players celebrated exuberantly in front of the curve the relegation, which was hardly thought possible.
On Sunday, Butscher still gave the impression that he himself did not believe in it. The team does. Perhaps the players had also been spurred on by the coach’s question of character. There was surprisingly little to see of Fortuna, whose fans were ready for promotion with a march along the Rhine and a great choreography, although the first scene belonged to the home side. After just over 50 seconds, Ao Tanaka tried it from distance, but his shot was just deflected.
In the Bochum defence, the assignment did not fit at the start of the game because coach Heiko Butscher surprisingly opted for a three-man backline. The basic order, which led to big problems at the beginning of the season under Thomas Letsch. On Monday, however, it worked. In addition, Lukas Daschner brought an offensive element into play that has often been missing this season. Bochum was actually ready to try everything again that evening.
Hofmann scores to give Bochum the lead
But the limitation of Bochum’s attacking game became clear at first. They tried it mainly with balls from the half-field, which did not put Fortuna in trouble. After eleven minutes, VfL combined with a bit of luck via Daschner and Philipp Hofmann into the penalty area, but Matus Bero was probably stopped fairly by Tim Oberdorf. Bochum had more possession, but could do little with it. Fortuna made the spaces tight and defended everything away well.
Until the 18th minute and a free kick from Kevin Stöger. His cross flew into the penalty area and Hofmann, who has been so often unlucky this season, was in the right place and headed past Florian Kastenmeier to take the lead. Bochum had the early goal, which was described in advance as the only chance on the way to the miracle. How does Fortuna react now? There was no sign of nervousness. And yet Bochum had the next big opportunity in the 22nd minute after a cross from Matus Bero. Hofmann was able to pluck the ball out of the air in the six-yard box, but couldn’t do anything with the pitch.
VfL Bochum pressed for second goal against Fortuna
The small intermediate momentum evaporated, Fortuna closed the spaces again. But Bochum kept at it, didn’t let it get them down and Wittek tested Kastenmeier with a long-range shot (32nd). And it almost rang again in the Fortuna box before the break. But after a free kick from Stöger, Keven Schlotterbeck headed past (41st). And even a deflected shot by Daschner only went to the side netting. Bochum lived.
And how! In the 50th minute, captain Anthony Losilla pulled off, but his shot was blocked, the ball landed with Daschner, who shot directly. But Oberdorf saved for Fortuna in dire need. And the people of Düsseldorf? They hardly took place offensively, Christos Tzolis was not a factor on this evening. And then something happened that hardly anyone had thought possible. Stöger was criminally released in the centre and hit a pinpoint cross to Hofmann’s head, who headed in the 66th minute to make it 2-0.
VfL Bochum: Pure madness – Stöger excels
Fortuna swam – and it got even worse! Only two minutes after the 2-0, Stöger stood on the edge of the penalty area, tried it with a chip – and Fortuna defender Matthias Zimmermann blocked with his elbow in the penalty area. Referee Deniz Aytekin decided on a penalty. Stöger stayed cool and converted safely. The team and away section freaked out, Bochum had actually equalized. And the fourth goal almost fell, but Kastenmeier was just able to defuse substitute Takuma Asano’s header (72nd). Shortly before the end of normal time, the Japanese also missed a cross from Patrick Osterhage (89th). On the other side, Ivan Ordets prevented Tzolis from scoring and it went into extra time.
No one scored in it, although Fortuna tried everything again. But Asano or Noah Lößli save on the line. (119th). The penalty shoot-out also offered pure drama. First Andreas saved against Andre Hoffmann, then Kastenmeier against Erhan Masovic. It took seven shooters to determine the winner – because Takashi Ushino shot over.
