Status: 10/23/2022 6:10 p.m
League leaders Union Berlin have lost feathers in the Bundesliga at relegation candidate VfL Bochum. Follower Bayern is only one point behind.
The previous bottom of the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum, landed a surprise coup against leaders Union Berlin on Sunday (October 23, 2022). The district club won 2-1 (1-0). The goals for VfL were scored by Philip Hoffmann (43rd minute) and Gerrit Holtmann (71st), Miloš Pantović (90th + 3) scored for Union. Bochum’s goalkeeper Manuel Riemann (78′) also saved a penalty kick from Pantović.
Although Union remains the leader of the table, it is only one point ahead of Bayern Munich. Bochum is still stuck in the table basement, but has found connection to the non-relegation places.
Bochum committed, Union sleepy
The starting position could not have been more different. Union with the strongest league defense met Bochum’s weakest offensive. But there was no sign of a class difference. Bochum acted committed and with a lot of passion, but also showed respect for the dreaded transition game from Berlin, which never got going.
Little happened on the pitch for the first half hour. Scoring opportunities remained scarce here and there. In terms of football, too, the game initially developed at a fairly modest level. Fight was trump, both teams neutralized each other, Union seemed strangely sleepy.
Bochum turns up the heat
Nevertheless, the Berliners had the first significant chance. After a corner by captain Christopher Trimmel, Jordan Siebatcheu (37.) came to the end from about eleven meters, VfL goalkeeper Riemann caught the slightly deflected ball just before the line. Then Bochum suddenly turned on. A shot by Jordi Osei-Tutu (43′) was wiped over the crossbar by Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow.
After the corner that followed, Hoffmann headed the ball into the Berlin goal. It was the first goal for Union after five competitive games with a clean slate.
Osei-Tutu hits the bar
Even after the restart, Bochum seemed more alert and determined than their opponents. Osei-Tutu (48′) shot over the goal from the edge of the penalty area. The Englishman had bad luck in the 62nd minute when he only hit the crossbar from twelve yards out. Union still had no access to the game and let Bochum buy their guts.
The Bochum team then celebrated the counterattack that was missing from the Köpenickers before the 2-0. They overturned the Union defense with perfect one-touch football, and in the end, substitute Holtmann pushed the ball in front of Rönnow from eight meters into the goal.
Riemann saves penalties
The pitch-black day for Urs Fischer’s team continued unabated. After video evidence, referee Deniz Aytekin gave a penalty, Erhan Mašović hit Diogo Leite in the leg in the penalty area.
Pantović took the penalty weakly, Riemann saved and thus prevented the final phase from getting really exciting again. Pantović’s goal in added time came too late.
Union Berlin at home against Braga
On Matchday 5 of the Europa League group stage, Union Berlin hosts Sporting Braga (Thursday, October 27th, 2022 at 6:45 p.m.).
On the 12th matchday of the Bundesliga, Bochum has to compete away from Wolfsburg (Saturday, October 29th, 2022 at 3.30 p.m.). Things get serious for the league leaders one day later in the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach (3:30 p.m.).
Source: sportschau.de