By John Bagratuni, dpa
Berlin (dpa) – Bochum won 3-1 against lowly Sandhausen to top the second division for a seventh promotion in club history. They last played in the top flight 2006-2010.
Fuerth came from behind twice with 10 men to beat Fortuna Duesseldorf 3-2 and reached the Bundesliga a second time after a lone season there 2012-13.
Bochum and Fuerth take the places of relegated Schalke and Werder Bremen in the top tier.
“It is outstanding, I have no words. I am so proud of the team and delighted,” Bochum captain Anthony Losilla told Sky TV as thousands of fans celebrated in the streets of the western German city.
Fuerth moved into second because Kiel lost their second game in a row, 3-2 at home against Darmstadt, to miss direct promotion.
However, they have a lifeline in the form of a two-legged play-off next week against the third-last Bundesliga finisher Cologne. Kiel lost a similar play-off three years ago against Wolfsburg.
The northern Germans ran out of steam at the end of a season which saw them beat Bayern Munich in the German Cup en route to a semi-final berth, but also having to play eight games in 23 days in the closing stages after a coronavirus quarantine.
Dusseldorf failed to gain immediate promotion back in fifth place, behind former European champions SV Hamburg who face a fourth year in the second division after having to settle for fourth yet again.
Police in Bochum later said they were shocked at scenes after the club’s match, as between 6,000 and 7,000 people gathered near the stadium and the city centre despite appeals from the city and the club.
The match was played without spectators due to coronavirus restrictions.
Police said bottles, fireworks and stones were thrown at officers, and eight police officers were injured. Ten people were detained.
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