Bochum avoid Bundesliga relegation after play-off penalty drama downs Dusseldorf

Bochum will be playing in the Bundesliga once again next campaign after staving off relegation with a penalty shoot-out victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf in the play-offs.

Heiko Butscher’s side finished 16th in the German top-flight table in the 2023-24 season, though got the better of their 2.Bundesliga opponents to secure another season in the competition.

Needing to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first-leg play-off defeat, Philipp Hofmann stole the show with a goal in either half before Kevin Stoger’s 70th-minute penalty sent the tie to extra time.

The pair could not be separated across an additional 30 minutes at Dusseldorf Arena, ensuring spot-kicks were required to decide the fate of the two Bundesliga hopefuls.

Andre Hoffmann missed Dusseldorf’s first but Erhan Masovic also faltered, leaving a winner-takes-all scenario in a sudden-death shoot-out with the score at 4-4.

Maximilian Wittek then converted before Takashi Uchino fired wide, sealing a 6-5 penalty shoot-out victory for Bochum after a 3-0 win on Monday snatched a 3-3 aggregate draw.

Dusseldorf finished third in Germany’s second division this season and will be forced for, at least, another campaign in 2. Bundesliga after this play-off heartbreak.

This was the first time a play-off has gone to penalties since the Bundesliga reintroduced the fixture, with Bochum ultimately prevailing to keep their top-flight status intact.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!?!? WE CERTAINLY DO!!!!!!!

WE ARE BUNDESLIGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#meinVfL #F95BOC pic.twitter.com/j2DS63634m

— VfL Bochum 1848 (@VfLBochum1848EN) May 27, 2024