Fortuna are one of only three teams in the 15 prior Bundesliga play-offs to have gained promotion, but to become the first to do it since Union Berlin in 2018/19, they would need to defy the odds.
A huge stroke of luck helped them on their way in the opening stages, when Christos Tzolis’ near post corner caught everyone by surprise, crashed back off the post and trickled over the line via an unfortunate Philipp Hofmann deflection.
Another fortuitous passage of play kept Fortuna ahead, as just moments later Bernardo headed Kevin Stöger’s corner onto the post.
The visitors’ goal was living a charmed life approaching the break and their net was rippling at one point, but fortunately for the 2. Bundesliga side it was only because Stöger’s wicked free-kick brushed the side netting.
As easily as they could’ve been level at the break, Bochum could also have been two behind when a swift counter on the stroke of HT resulted in Vincent Vermeij flashing an effort across the face of goal.
A deficit at the break left the hosts with a mountain to climb after the restart, not least because Fortuna hadn’t lost a league game they’d led at HT all season.
At 1-0, the Blues were still in the game, but only a sensational save from stand-in goalkeeper Andreas Luthe within five minutes of the restart to deny Felix Klaus kept them in the game.
He was powerless shortly after the hour mark to prevent Fortuna from extending their lead though, as a lightning-quick counter ended with Tzolis threading an inch-perfect ball through for Klaus, who finished with aplomb in front of the raucous travelling support.
Fortuna were at risk of running riot when they added a third through Yannik Engelhardt, as he tapped into an empty net after Luthe only half-parried Tzolis’ free-kick.
The situation could’ve been a whole lot worse for Bochum, who survived a late scare when Klaus crashed an effort against the crossbar, but three goals behind in the tie, most of the damage was already done for the hosts, who are now staring down the barrel of a return to the second tier.
The picture is much more positive for Fortuna though, who have one foot in the Bundesliga as they eye a return for the first time since 2019/20.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Christos Tzolis (Fortuna Dusseldorf)