#TSG10: An Emotional Roller-Coaster

Emotions flooded through the Cologne stadium. Hoffenheim forcefully attacked and besieged the penalty area whilst the players also battled against the voice of the crowd. For 90 minutes furious songs were being chanted against TSG, the atmosphere was extremely heated, and the TSG fans who had travelled, did their best to be heard. But by the time injury time had arrived, it seemed the objective was out of reach. Cologne was leading 1-0 in the floodlit game on Matchday 30 and despite a strong performance, TSG's eagerly awaited first time qualification for the European Cup, in that moment, was under threat and about to fail.

It was heated, and soon after Leonardo Bittencourt's opening goal (58'), the electric atmosphere had transferred from the stands, onto the field. Fouls, hacks and skirmishes made it seem that a duel had started between the two European Cup contenders, all in the glare of the floodlights, fulfilling all the criteria for a true European Cup match. That included the irrepressible will to prevent defeat, failure and frustration. TSG threw everything forward, whilst the clock for stoppage time kept ticking, second by second. The stands were shrouded in a cloud of nervousness, each team separated by different colours, but their concerns were the same: the need for points, a place European Cup and the success of a whole season. Furious cries, people peeking through their fingers, wide-open eyes - the spectators were treated to a fantastic spectacle on the Cologne Bundesliga stage - the end of which shook the stadium.

#TheFirstTime 

Moving forward, Niklas Süle received the ball as he arrived at Cologne's penalty area, he then played it parallel to the penalty area, to Kerem Demirbay, who calmly pushed the ball with considerable precision to the far corner. Goal. 1-1. European Cup. #TheFirstTime.

A moment that will last forever, both for TSG and for Kerem Demirbay, "When Niklas Süle got the ball, I knew he was going to take that step and that I was going to get the ball, and I was 100 percent sure that I'd get it in. I saw where my opponent was and I saw the the gap between the post and knew that I just had to squeeze the ball firmly through there with the inside of my foot, and it'd be 1-1 to put us through."

What followed was an emotional outburst, something that has rarely been seen from the play-maker and Hoffenheim team in general. If a seismograph had been installed in the Cologne stadium, it would have been to much to measure. The Hoffenheim stands exploded, the Cologne crowd jeered and whistled whilst Demirbay ran towards the Hoffenheim fans, jumped and landed on the corner flag before being joined by his teammates, who embraced him and almost crushed him in the celebrations. He stretched his fist to out to the fans, in the knowledge that the challenge had been accepted and won. Despite a gale of emotions the goal had been reached, TSG Hoffenheim's first qualification for the European Cup.

"It was an unbelievable, unforgettable feeling"

"It was an unbelievable, unforgettable feeling and a special moment for me. In that one 90 minute game, we rewarded ourselves for all the efforts of the entire season. I'm actually a quiet person, both on and off the pitch, but in that moment, I was extremely happy, because the emotions just took over me, even when I jumped on the corner flag. I just did not know what to do with all my feelings. There is also a cool photo of us, I think that actually says it all," says Demirbay.

Meanwhile Leonardo Bittencourt was having an emotional roller-coaster of his own. He fought hard with Cologne for their first European Cup appearance after 25 years, and wanted to reward himself, the team and the outstanding Anthony Modeste for a spectacular season and to bring the fans the long-awaited European Cup place. But the 1-1 was a setback that hurt. What's more, his competitor a few meters away was also experiencing an emotional roller-coaster but on the other end of the spectrum - happiness. "It was very, very bitter moment for us at the time, we were in the lead for a while and it would have been an important win. The draw was deserved, but of course that does not interest you in that moment," said the attacker, who has been been playing for TSG since the start of this season.

However, there is a happy ending for the season of 2016/17 for Bittencourt and the FC, who succeeded in qualifying for the Europa League. That makes it easier for the 24-year-old to overlook the goals scored by his current and former teammates. Demirbay and Bittencourt actually played together in the season of 2012/13 at Borussia Dortmund II. "On that evening we were wearing different shirts, and everyone was fighting for their own team. It was a shame for us, but it is nothing to get angry about, now we are playing together and we can get goals for each other."

Bittencourt, who already played with Kevin Vogt in Cologne and Nico Schulz in the National Youth Team, is now looking forward to sharing European Cup nights with them. "Similarly to TSG we didn't do so well in the Europa League with FC, but everyone wants to play internationally. Having already reached the Champions League Final with BVB, it was an incredible experience and now I am looking forward to the next Champion's League experience - there is nothing better than competing with the best."

The fact that Demirbay and Bittencourt will play together in the Champions League, just under a year and a half after the ferocious finale at Cologne's Footballing Temple, hardly seemed possible back then. But both were present on the pitch when TSG made history and now both want to add another chapter to the TSG story, together, wearing the same shirts.