11th matchday
Union fails at Bochum – it’s Bayern’s turn
League leaders Union Berlin suffered a defeat at VfL Bochum. photo
© David Indian song / dpa
That comes as a surprise: League leaders Union Berlin lose to relegation candidates VfL Bochum. After that, some Union professionals quarrel. You know: Bayern are very close now.
After their coup against the leaders, the professionals from VfL Bochum celebrated with their fans long after the final whistle, the players from 1. FC Union Berlin looked much less happy. After the 1:2 (0:1) defeat, they thanked the fans who had traveled with them with serious faces – because they must have known by this point on Sunday afternoon: Bayern are now very close.
“Unnecessary, annoying,” said Union midfielder Rani Khedira at DAZN. “If you don’t call up the basics, it will be incredibly difficult in the Bundesliga.” Bochum was simply better, said captain Christopher Trimmel. Only one point separates Munich from the surprise team at the top of the table.
Bochum draws hope in the relegation battle after another coup against a top team with seven points. “I think we deserved to win again today. The coach gave us a good plan,” said midfielder Philipp Förster.
Union relies on “safety first”
Philipp Hofmann shortly before the break (43rd minute) and substitute Gerrit Holtmann (71st) scored the goals for VfL in front of 25,460 spectators. Substitute ex-Bochumer Milos Pantovic (90 + 3) scored for Union shortly before the end. Previously, he failed with a penalty kick from goalkeeper Manuel Riemann. “It was the expected difficult game here,” said Khedira. “You have to push your limits game after game as Union Berlin to score points in the Bundesliga.”
Union coach Fischer also relied on the proven 3-3-2-2 system and the appropriate staff in Bochum. Compared to the 2-0 win against Heidenheim in the cup, regular keeper Frederik Rönnow and Paul Jaeckel, captain Christopher Trimmel, Rani Khedira, Niko Gießelmann and Jordan were back in the starting XI. As always, Union capitalized “safety first” and left the initiative to Bochum. The previous bottom of the table tried to find a gap in particular through Jordi Osei-Tutu, who had replaced Holtmann in the starting line-up. VfL did not succeed in doing this for long stretches, nor did Union.
But Bochum stayed tuned – and was rewarded. Osei-Tutu used one of Knoche’s rare mistakes and tested Union keeper Rönnow with a shot from 16 meters. Hofmann headed the following corner from Philipp Förster to score his third goal of the season. The commitment of the hosts was rewarded. However, Bochum was also lucky when referee Deniz Aytekin only drew a yellow card against Ivan Ordets (18th) after a violent foul on Berlin’s Janik Haberer. Haberer had to leave the field in the 20th minute, and Pantovic came on for him.
No prescription against passion of the hosts
The second half showed that Union struggled to make the game after going behind. That was already evident in the first defeat of the season in Frankfurt (0:2) and also in Bochum. Berlin had hardly any recipe against the passion of the hosts. Pantovic had the first chance to score, but his shot went wide. Almost in return, Osei-Tutu was unlucky with a shot at the crossbar.
The coronation for the home side was the 2:0 by Holtmann after an exemplary counterattack via Christopher Antwi Adjei – and the saved penalty by goalkeeper Manuel Riemann. Pantovic’s 1:2 following a corner came too late for the guests.