Stuttgart avoids relegation from Bundesliga with stoppage-time Wataru Endo goal

Wataru Endo’s 92nd minute goal on the final day of the season saved Stuttgart from relegations, setting off wild scenes as fans crowded the pitch to celebrate.

You couldn’t ask for more drama than the final day of the Bundesliga provided, with Stuttgart avoiding relegation thanks to a Wataru Endo goal deep into stoppage time.

Stuttgart entered their final match of the year in 16th place, with American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side three points behind Hertha Berlin, who occupied the final safe spot. Nothing but a win, paired with a loss for Hertha, would do.

By halftime, the cause seemed lost. While Sasa Kalajdic’s goal did see Stuttgart lead Koln, Hertha were up 1-0 over Borussia Dortmund. Things got even more dire in the 59th minute, as Anthony Modeste equalized for Koln. Stuttgart needed to find a winner of their own, but also needed major help from Dortmund, who entered the match guaranteed of finishing in 2nd place no matter what they did.

The help from Dortmund came first. Erling Haaland, in his final match with Dortmund before a move to Manchester City, equalized from the spot, before Youssoufa Moukoko notched an 84th minute winner.

Still, Hertha were safe unless Stuttgart could produce a goal without conceding. With the match entering the 92nd minute, Stuttgart sent everyone forward on a corner kick, including goalkeeper Florian Müller, and got the miracle they needed. Omar Marmoush’s service was flicked on to the back post, where amid a crowd of players crashing the goal, Wataru Endo dove onto the ball, heading it into the roof of the net. That set off wild scenes at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, with fans storming the pitch to celebrate.

While Stuttgart will be spending tonight in party mode, Hertha have a chance at salvation of their own. They’ll face the third-placed team from the 2.Bundesliga in a relegation playoff, and that may require more drama. Four different teams (Werder Bremen, Hamburg, Darmstadt, and St. Pauli) could all end up in that spot depending on results from the final round of second division matches on Sunday morning.

Watch Stuttgart avoid relegation with a miraculous late goal