Completely crazy playout: Obermais is saved!

Incredible, FC Obermais! The Merano team secured their place in Serie D on Sunday in a crazy relegation playoff match against Vigasio. This match will be remembered for a long time.

17 May 2026

From: det

What a match, what fighting spirit, what an incredible story: FC Obermais secured their place in Serie D on Sunday. In a relegation playoff match in Vigasio that couldn't have been more dramatic, the Merano team clinched their survival with a 3-2 victory after extra time.

After that, all hell broke loose for the Blue and Whites: The many traveling fans were ecstatic, the players embraced each other, and even years from now, people will look back on this match and think: Crazy, unbelievable, epic, what the team achieved there.

Manuel Brusco scored the equalizer for Obermais. © P. Schwienbacher

But let's take it one step at a time. Obermais received a cold shower after just 22 minutes: Following a foul by Paulmichl in his own penalty area, Vigasio was awarded a penalty, which captain Moras confidently converted (22'). However, FCO's response was swift: The powerful Stecher won the ball in midfield and delivered a pinpoint cross to Brusco, who headed home to make it 1-1 (38').

Missed penalty, equalizer in the last second

After the break, the drama intensified: First, Moras missed another penalty, his shot saved by Obermais goalkeeper Tenderini. Then, the Vigasio captain scored what appeared to be a last-minute equalizer, seemingly securing his team's survival in the league. Following a counter-attack, Moras fired a shot into the far corner to make it 2-1. Obermais seemed defeated, their relegation to the Oberliga sealed. But substitute Turini had other ideas: In the third and final minute of stoppage time, a deflected shot from Ciaghi fell to the youngster's feet, who slotted home to make it 2-2 – sending the game into extra time for Obermais.

Coach Flavio Toccoli led Obermais to staying in the league.

The rules were clear: Vigasio, due to their better league position, only needed a draw to stay in the league, while Obermais had to score in extra time to avoid relegation. And then the blue-and-whites actually pulled off the lucky punch: A Ciaghi free kick found Loncini, who sealed the fairytale victory with a thunderous shot from 20 meters – in the 116th minute. When the referee blew the final whistle, there was no holding back the celebrations on the football pitch in Vigasio.

Obermais remains in Serie D, Naturns is promoted to Oberliga.

Obermais has achieved something that few South Tyrolean teams have managed before: they've secured their place in the highly competitive Serie D. It's the culmination of a season full of ups and downs – a season in which the hearts of the Merano players never stopped beating.

This result also has far-reaching consequences for amateur football in South Tyrol: it is now certain that the second-placed team in the Landesliga will be promoted to the Oberliga. This is none other than Obermais' arch-rival Naturns, who secured second place on Sunday with a 1-0 victory against champion Bruneck.