15th matchday
A powerful setback for the Union: Berliners lose in Bochum
Bochum’s Cristian Gamboa (from left), goalscorer Takuma Asano, Anthony Losilla and Tim Oermann celebrate after scoring the goal to make it 1-0. photo
© David Inderlied/dpa
Union Berlin suffers a bitter setback in the relegation battle in Bochum. This game is also accompanied by fan protests. Referee Sven Jablonski even has to interrupt the game.
In front of 25,300 spectators in the Ruhrstadion, Union was almost never able to match the performance of the 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach the previous week. Four days after the Champions League farewell against Real Madrid (2:3), the surprise team from the previous season appeared harmless at the front and vulnerable at the back. Takuma Asano (45th + 5th), Goncalo Paciencia (54th) and Kevin Stöger (78th / penalty) scored the goals for the highly superior hosts. Bochum remained unbeaten in their fourth home game in a row and moved slightly clear of the relegation zone.
There was initially mostly silence in the stands at the start of the game in protest against a DFL investor deal. Things started off at a high pace on the pitch. Both teams looked for a quick and straightforward way forward. After a cross from Cristian Gamboa, Stöger narrowly missed making it 1-0 for Bochum (3rd).
VfL in particular got into the game well and gained ever greater advantages. However, after twelve minutes, referee Sven Jablonski had to interrupt the game. Union fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch, causing a four-minute break. Chocolate coins also flew onto the lawn – Bochum’s offensive player Asano opened one and ate it.
The interruption did not upset the hosts. Bochum remained dangerous. Striker Paciencia had a great chance missed by Union keeper Frederik Rönnow, Patrick Osterhage shot over the goal from a promising position and Asano also couldn’t get past Rönnow. On the other side, Janik Haberer had the first real chance for the guests after more than half an hour. Bochum’s defender Keven Schlotterbeck cleared just before the line.
When everything looked like it would be 0-0 at half-time, VfL rewarded themselves for a good first half. After a corner from Stöger, Asano hit the ball into the net for a deserved lead.
And Bochum followed up. Goalkeeper Manuel Riemann made the game quick after a Berlin attack and initiated a textbook counterattack. The ball reached Paciencia in the penalty area via the strong Asano and Christopher Antwi-Adjei, who scored to make it 2-0.
Union coach Bjelica tried to give another impulse from outside. Even his triple substitution after an hour did not change the balance of power. Bochum had the game well under control and even increased it to 3-0 with a penalty kick according to video evidence.