Kalajdzic scored to make it 1-0, Modeste equalized
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’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.”
VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller: “It takes so much weight off you”
The dramatic game was “ready for film”, said VfB keeper Florian Müller. “When it was shown that Dortmund had equalized, then led: The stadium exploded, that was a whole different level.” It could have been a particularly bitter afternoon for Müller after he blundered when Cologne equalized. “Honestly, in the end it doesn’t give a fuck.” Shortly before Endo’s winning goal, Müller even came into the guests’ penalty area to somehow get the ball into the goal. “Then everything escalated. I think these are feelings that you can’t even describe. It takes so much of a load off you. It’s just great.”
Sven Mislintat after the VfB victory: “Concentrated load of emotion”
VfB sporting director Sven Mislintat was also unstoppable after the winning goal and the final whistle. “The little fat one is still reasonably fit in the sprint,” he said later with a smile about his quick start. “Full emotions out.” He also thanked Borussia Dortmund, his former employer, who made VfB’s relegation possible in the first place with the 2-1 win against Hertha BSC.