VfB Stuttgart secured direct relegation with a goal in injury time against 1. FC Köln. After the final whistle there is ecstasy, the fans storm onto the pitch. Goal scorer Endo speaks of “perhaps the best moment of my life”.
With the final whistle, the VfB Stuttgart fans stormed the pitch at the last minute after staying up. The Swabians won 2-1 (1-0) at home against 1. FC Cologne on Saturday and, thanks to the better goal difference and the 1-2 defeat of their competitor Hertha BSC at Borussia Dortmund, they moved up to the saving 15th place in the table.
VfB had taken a 1-0 lead through Sasa Kalajdzic (12th minute) before Anthony Modeste equalized for Domstadt (60th). In the second minute of added time, Stuttgart captain Wataru Endo scored. After that, all the dams broke. Even the stewards couldn’t stop the crowd of spectators on the lawn.
Ex-VfB player Hansi Müller: “It couldn’t be surpassed in terms of drama. We missed a lot of chances in the last few weeks, so I’m extremely happy that it still worked out. The stadium was vibrating, I’ve never seen the stadium like this. It’s brutal for Hertha now.”
Goal scorer Watardu Endo: “It’s a wonderful moment. It’s the best moment of my life. There is singing, drinking and dancing in the dressing room!”
Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo: “I have a headache after so much cheering and screaming. It was absolute ecstasy. It was a beautiful moment. A great ending. We played a very good half, but then we had problems in the second half. And then the players got bolder and bolder. It was just outstanding. You never forget a moment like today. We’ll definitely keep partying today – there’s bound to be a demolition party at the stadium.”
