Bochum Secure Top-Flight Status Via Penalties At Duesseldorf

Bochum will play first-division football again next season after coming from three goals down and beating second-division Fortuna Duesseldorf away via a penalty shoot-out in Monday's relegation play-off second leg. Trailing 3-0 after the first leg at home, Bochum had little hope but were dragged back into the tie thanks to a superb performance from out-of-contract midfielder Kevin Stoeger, who laid on two goals before winning and converting a penalty. Bochum led 3-0 at full-time and the match went to penalties after a goalless extra period.

Andreas Luthe saved Duesseldorf's first spot-kick but Florian Kastenmeier then saved one of Bochum's to keep the hosts in the shoot-out.

Players from both sides then converted spot-kicks until Takashi Uchino blasted his side's seventh over the bar, meaning Bochum stay in the top flight for a fourth straight season.

"We were in such a good position, we were so close, that's why it hurts even more," said Duesseldorf's sporting director Klaus Allofs.

"We didn't play well but I don't know why -- we have no idea."

His Bochum counterpart Patrick Fabian told Sky: "Incredible, that topped it all off as far as the season is concerned.

"I'm incredibly proud of the boys."

- Confident mood -

The Bundesliga relegation play-off features the team which finished third from bottom in the top division against the third-placed second-division team in a home and an away leg.

Unbeaten in the second division since February, Duesseldorf were extremely confident of progressing after their three-goal first leg.

Before the game, fans unveiled a giant tifo which simply said: "Fortuna Wins".

Stoeger, who spent two years at Duesseldorf, laid on the opener after 18 minutes, curling in a free-kick for Philipp