Space storm party thanks to happy ending
At VfB Stuttgart, drama turns into pure ecstasy
05/14/2022, 7:22 p.m
After the final whistle there was no holding back: the Stuttgart fans stormed the pitch, celebrating their players and the just saved relegation. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo can no longer recap injury time while his footballers are still celebrating around him. Another year in the Bundesliga is set.
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was no longer to be seen among the jubilant VfB Stuttgart players. A few minutes later, after staying up in the Bundesliga, the fans stormed onto the field as if unleashed and took numerous souvenirs home with them.
“It was pure ecstasy,” said Coach Matarazzo after the 2-1 (1-0) win over 1. FC Köln and a first champagne shower on Sky. “I don’t even know what happened and who scored the goal. It was a great finish and extremely exciting.”
It was Wataru Endo who scored in the second minute of added time and still averted the detour via relegation. Due to the better goal difference and thanks to the 1:2 (1:0) defeat of Hertha BSC at Borussia Dortmund, VfB climbed to the saving 15th place in the table. 1. FC Köln will play in the Conference League next season.
“A tough season”
Sasa Kalajdzic gave VfB hope for a 1-0 lead with his header (12′) after missing a penalty seconds earlier. Goalscorer Anthony Modeste equalized after an hour. He benefited from the fact that keeper Müller did not hold on to a cross. But then Endo was there. “It was a tough season,” said the goalscorer in English and then added in German. “All’s well that ends well.”
The fans knew no stopping.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Driven by the majority of the 58,453 fans in the sold-out arena, the Stuttgarters started with a lot of pressure in the traditional jerseys of the 1992 championship team. This forced them to win the ball quickly. But they didn’t get any chances at first.
The words of Matarazzo, who had hoped for a high level of intensity from the start the day before, were followed by action. Borna Sosa shot from distance (8′) and a minute later Tiago Tomás tested Köln’s keeper Marvin Schwäbe, who let the ball rebound.
Matarazzo clapped contentedly and continued to whip his team forward. The 44-year-old said she should tackle the task with “emotions and heart”. And so did the southern Germans, who were rewarded for their effort. Tomás won a penalty which Kalajdzic missed. The Austrian did better in the subsequent corner kick.
BVB compensation heats up
However, it was still 0-0 in Dortmund at this point. A draw there would not have been enough for VfB. A few minutes later it got even worse. Hertha’s opening goal was not announced in Stuttgart.
VfB didn’t let up. Endo (34th/36th) and Tomás (45th +2) missed the greatest opportunities for a more comfortable lead. Surprisingly, the 1:1 fell after the change of sides. Modeste was there with her head and made the Cologne fans who had traveled with her cheer.
Dortmund’s equalizer was shown on the video screen and heated up the mood in the stands once more. The VfB professionals threw everything forward on the field and after Borussia’s opening goal, they also scored the winning goal themselves, which triggered a storm.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m breaking down inside right now,” Kalajdzic said. “Thanks to the fans. We know we made a lot of mistakes and were unlucky this season. But we have a happy ending.” The fans only returned to the stands an hour after the final whistle. The team then showed up again and celebrated for minutes.