Bochum staged a thrilling comeback against Fortuna Düsseldorf to secure their spot in the Bundesliga in a penalty shootout on Monday. Despite having a 3-0 advantage from the first leg of their playoff, Düsseldorf was unable to hold on as Bochum won the second leg 3-0 with goals from Philipp Hofmann and Kevin Stöger’s penalty.
Hofmann, who had scored an own goal in the first leg, expressed how the team was written off after the first game, which motivated them to make history and achieve the incredible. The match went into extra time, where Düsseldorf came close to scoring, but Bochum’s defense held strong with several goal-line clearances.
The game was ultimately decided in a tense penalty shootout, where both goalkeepers made crucial saves. Stöger, who played a key role in Bochum’s comeback, described the team as heroes on the day. Unfortunately for Düsseldorf, Takashi Uchino missed his spot kick, ending their hopes of promotion.
Bochum finished third from the bottom in the Bundesliga, while Düsseldorf ended third in the second division. The emotional match showcased the highs and lows of football, with Bochum celebrating survival and Düsseldorf facing disappointment in their promotion bid.
