Fortuna Dusseldorf ended the year with a crucial three points after defeating Union Berlin 2-1 at Merkur Spiel-Arna on Sunday afternoon.
Rouwen Hennings put the home side ahead with his 11th league goal of the season in the 38th minute, but parity was restored 10 minutes later through Michel Parensen's strike.
With seemingly destined to finish in a draw, Erik Thommy popped up with the winning goal for the Dusseldorf in the 90th minute.
The victory moves the hosts up to 16th spot in the standings, while Berlin remain unchanged in 11th position.
Paderborn gave the survival bid a major boost with a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in their final clash of the year.
Abdelhamid Sabriri and Sebastian Schonlau put the hosts two goals up in the first half.
Bas Dost pulled a goal back for Frankfurt with 18 minutes remaining in the second stanza, but Paderborn will able to hold on for victory.
Paderborn remain bottom of the table, but are now five points adrift of safety heading into next year's fixtures.
