Noel Futkeu and Branimir Hrgota fire Greuther Fürth to Bundesliga 2 safety in dramatic play-off win over Rot-Weiß Essen
Greuther Fürth beat Rot-Weiss Essen 2-0 in the Bundesliga 2 relegation play-off second leg at Sportpark Ronhof, securing their spot in the second tier for the 2026/27 campaign thanks to goals from Noel Futkeu and Branimir Hrgota.
Greuther Fürth 2-0 Rot-Weiß Essen (2-1 agg)
Goals: 1-0 Futkeu 29‘, 2-0 Hrgota 47‘
Fürth entered this second leg at Sportpark Ronhof trailing 1-0 on aggregate after Torben Müsel's free-kick had settled the first leg in Essen's favour. Heiko Vogel's side made one change from that defeat, with Sacha Bansé coming in for Dennis Srbeny.
Uwe Koschinat's Rot-Weiss Essen, meanwhile, named an unchanged side, looking to build on their slender advantage and secure promotion to Bundesliga 2. The stakes could not have been higher: a Fürth win by two goals or more would keep them up, while anything less would send them down.
Essen threaten early
Essen made a bright start and came close to extending their aggregate lead inside the first ten minutes. Gianluca Swajkowski found himself one-on-one with Silas Prüfrock in the 10th minute, but the Fürth goalkeeper spread himself well to make a fine save.
Müsel, the hero of the first leg, then tested Prüfrock with a first-time effort from range in the 14th minute, which the keeper tipped over the bar. Fürth also had their moments, with Jannik Dehm's mis-hit cross striking the crossbar in the 19th minute.
Futkeu breaks the deadlock
The decisive moment arrived in the 29th minute. Branimir Hrgota drove into the box before slipping the ball to Felix Klaus, who poked it across the six-yard area after an initially heavy touch. Noel Futkeu was on hand to sweep the ball home from close range, levelling the tie on aggregate.
Fürth grew in confidence thereafter, with Klaus and Bansé both going close to doubling the lead before the interval.The first half ended 1-0 to Fürth.
Hrgota seals it early in the second half
Essen introduced Dickson Abiama for Ramien Safi at the break, but it was Fürth who struck first in the second period. Just two minutes after the restart, Hrgota cut in from the right onto his left foot and bent a finish into the far bottom corner, giving Fürth a 2-0 lead on the night and a 2-1 aggregate advantage.
Michael Kostka had a chance to pull one back for Essen shortly after but shot straight at Prüfrock from inside the box. Fürth continued to press and Jakob Golz made two excellent saves to deny Hrgota and Futkeu in quick succession in the 56th minute.
Essen's goal ruled out by VAR
Essen thought they had pulled a goal back in the 68th minute when Jaka Čuber Potočnik side-footed home from a Jannik Hofmann cross, but the VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for offside. Essen continued to push, with Lucas Brumme's header blocked in the 73rd minute.
The closest Essen came was in the 81st minute when Abiama's header struck the post and Müsel headed the rebound straight at Prüfrock from close range. Marek Janssen also went close with a long-range effort in the 83rd minute.
Fürth hold on for survival
Fürth managed the closing stages with composure, with Futkeu working tirelessly in defence as well as attack. Kaito Mizuta had a late chance for Essen in the 89th minute but fired wide.
Seven minutes of stoppage time were added, but Fürth held firm to secure a 2-0 victory on the night, retaining their place in Bundesliga 2 for the 2026/27 season. Essen, meanwhile, remain in the third division.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Fürth 1.82 - Essen 1.36
Fastest player: Luca Itter (Greuther Fürth), 35.35 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-0 by Branimir Hrgota (Greuther Fürth), 2 percent
Most pressed player: Branimir Hrgota (Greuther Fürth), 25 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Felix Klaus (Greuther Fürth), +3.47
