Union Berlin promoted to Bundesliga, Stuttgart relegated
Soccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin players celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
BERLIN (Reuters) - Union Berlin were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time after a 0-0 draw with VfB Stuttgart in the second leg of their relegation/promotion playoff on Monday gave them an away-goals victory after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate.
Union twice hit the post in the 66th and 67th minutes in a very physical encounter, but it was their two goals in the first leg in Stuttgart that secured their spot in the top division next season.
The Berlin club, who will join Hertha as the capital's two representatives in the top division, had finished in the top 10 of the second division in each of the previous eight seasons.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin players celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
"The team really deserved this after such a season," said club sports chief Oliver Ruhnert. "But it was the toughest route they chose. It is such a great feeling to give people what they have been yearning for."
Union, located in the eastern part of the city and known for their fierce fan loyalty and social engagement, become the 56th club to play in the Bundesliga.
For Stuttgart, who had finished the campaign third from bottom, it was their second relegation in four seasons and their third in the club's history.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin's Akaki Gogia celebrates after winning the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
"Personally it is very tough to think straight at the moment," said interim Stuttgart coach Nico Willig. "At the end of the day Union are promoted and it is deserved. We failed to stay up. That was the mission and that is why I am very disappointed."
Hanover 96 and Nuremberg were relegated from the Bundesliga while Cologne and Paderborn won automatic promotion to the top flight.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer after winning the match REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer has beer poured over him as they celebrate winning the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin's Sebastian Andersson in action with VfB Stuttgart's Ozan Kabak REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin players celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin players fans celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin's Grischa Promel in action with VfB Stuttgart's Holger Badstuber REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 VfB Stuttgart fans REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin fans REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin's Robert Zulj shoots from a free kick REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin's Robert Zulj and Grischa Promel in action with VfB Stuttgart's Santiago Ascacibar REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 VfB Stuttgart's Christian Gentner in action with Union Berlin's Manuel Schmiedebach REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga Relegation Playoff - Union Berlin v VfB Stuttgart - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - May 27, 2019 Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer celebrates after winning the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
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