The fans made the Försterei tremble beforehand, for the players the long and exhilarating Europa League party began with the final whistle.
Three years after being promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time, the team of successful coach Urs Fischer crowned an outstanding season by participating in the Europa League for the first time next season.
With a 3:2 (2:0) against VfL Bochum in front of 22,012 spectators in the sold-out atmosphere in Berlin-Köpenick, the Union made the biggest success in the club's history perfect under their own steam.
In his last game for Union, Grischa Prömel took the lead in the fifth minute, Taiwo Awoniyi increased the lead to 2-0 with a hand penalty before the break (19 ').
For Bochum, Simon Zoller (55th) scored the goal, Eduard Löwen (79th) even equalized.
But then it was Awoniyi again (88') who stopped shaking.
The outcome of the game between pursuers 1. FC Köln and VfB Stuttgart was irrelevant.
Union ended the season sensationally fifth in the table.
Thanks in part to a start to the final game of another memorable season that even the most enthusiastic Ironclads could not have imagined better.
Minutes earlier, the fans had fervently celebrated vice-captain Prömel as the "football god".
Shortly after his preliminary farewell – Prömel is moving to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – the offensive player appeared in the Bochum penalty area.
The 27-year-old nodded off the ball, which the industrious Genki Haraguchi curled from the right side to Prömel's head.
Unstoppable for guest keeper Michael Esser, who was only in Bochum's goal for the third time this season and had just cleared against Sheraldo Becker.
With his arms thrown up, Prömel let himself be celebrated by fans and teammates. With his fourth goal in the last six league games, Prömel, who switched five years ago from Karlsruher SC to the then second division club, played a key role in the final and decisive Union sprint for the Europa League.
Union dominated the game in the first half.
Guest coach Thomas Reis had changed his squad again and made six changes.
Possibly also intimidated by the scenery, it was initially a rather cautious appearance by the guests, whose whereabouts in the league were already certain.
When a shot from Union's Sven Michel, who came on early for the injured Becker, clapped Robert Tesche's hands, everything seemed to be going well.
After the video show it was said: Penalty.
Awoniyi scored his 14th goal of the season.
It was madness to improve last season, Fischer said before the game.
They were eleventh in the first year of the Bundesliga and seventh in the second.
Zoller's goal in a Union phase that was too passive made things exciting again, especially since Bochum even managed to equalize under pressure.
But thanks to Awoniyi, the long Europa League night in Köpenick began prematurely with club points (57) and place records (5th).