Bochum have clinched Bundesliga survival by coming from three goals down and winning a penalty shootout 6-5 to thwart Fortuna Duesseldorf's promotion bid.
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Second division club Duesseldorf were 3-0 up from the first leg of their playoff on Thursday, but Philipp Hofmann scored twice and Kevin Stoeger converted a penalty for Bochum to win the second leg 3-0. Hofmann scored an own goal in the first leg.
It left the teams level at 3-3 on aggregate. Duesseldorf came closest to scoring in extra time and Bochum held on thanks to a number of goal-line clearances.
Veteran goalkeeper Andreas Luthe saved Andre Hoffmann's first effort for Duesseldorf in the shootout, and counterpart Florian Kastenmeier also made a save for the home team.
It left the pressure on Duesseldorf's Takashi Uchino. The young Japanese defender sent his spot kick high over the bar along with his team's hopes.
"We have a young team and ... we will try again next season. Bochum had nothing to lose," Duesseldorf board member for sport Klaus Allofs said.
Bochum finished third from bottom in the Bundesliga, while Duesseldorf were third in the second division.
"It is unbelievable. Everything seemed to go against us and no one would bet on us," Bochum managing director Patrick Fabian told Sky TV.
"I am extremely proud of the lads to perform like this after the first leg.
Bochum now stay in the Bundesliga for a fourth straight season while Duesseldorf missed a top flight return after four years.
With DPA.
Australian Associated Press
