VfL Bochum had not won six games in a row. In the 3-2 win against FC Augsburg, the knot burst on the third-to-last matchday. Which could also get the FCA into trouble again.
A lightning goal, an own goal, a lucky goal: VfL Bochum made an impressive comeback in the Bundesliga relegation battle.
After six previous games without a win, the Westphalians deservedly defeated FC Augsburg 3-2 (1-1), improved at least until Sunday to rank 15, which saved them at the end of the season, and even dragged the Swabians back into the relegation loop.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei put VfL in the lead after just 91 seconds. After Arne Maier equalized (29′), an own goal by captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (60′) and a fortunately deflected shot by Bochum captain Anthony Losillla (62′) ensured VfL’s home win. Substitute Kelvin Yeboah, nephew of former Bundesliga top scorer Anthony Yeboah, reduced the deficit with his first Bundesliga goal (85th). With 34 points, the Augsburgers have two games before the end of the season, four points ahead of the relegation rank, on Sunday it could shrink to three.
Game with many chances to score
It was the duel of the teams with the fewest chances in the league, but those who expected a tired kick were pleasantly surprised. Antwi-Adjei passed Maximilian Bauer from the left and threw the ball under the crossbar from seven meters on the right. The shot didn’t seem unstoppable, but FCA keeper Tomas Koubek got his hands up too late. VfL thus moved up to relegation rank in the live table, Augsburg were only three points away.
The hosts were now driven even louder by their supporters, who had already pulled up a beautiful blue and white choreography before kick-off. The Augsburgers were immediately forced to act as well, if they didn’t want to be drawn deep into the relegation battle – and promptly ran into a dangerous counterattack. At the end of which Takuma Asano did not hit the ball properly (8th). Five minutes later, Koubek saved a 22-yard shot by Dominique Heintz.
VfL fans celebrate Schalke’s defeat
After 25 minutes, the Bochum fans cheered again – but through a goal in Munich. Because when local rivals FC Schalke 04 fell behind at FC Bayern, Bochum even moved up to 15th place. But they quickly gambled away themselves when Maier took the first real chance for the guests from a tight angle. Dion Beljo had previously conquered the ball against Philipp Förster and served Maier. A few minutes earlier, Philipp Hofmann had headed the ball onto the goal net from three meters and missed the 2-0. Ten minutes after the equaliser, the visitors suddenly had the opening goal on their feet, but Saidy Janko successfully blocked Ermedin Demirovic at the very last moment.
After the break, VfL almost took the lead even earlier with an own goal, but Koubek quickly saved after Felix Uduokhai’s unfortunate free-kick extension with his hip (51′). Curiously, the Czech was defeated by his own man nine minutes later when Gouweleeuw, who had been very strong up to that point, kneed a sharp cross from Antwi-Adjei into the far post. And less than two minutes later, something like half an own goal followed, when ex-Bochumer Elvis Rexhbecaj deflected a shot from Losilla into Koubek. Bochum celebrated exuberantly, even goalkeeper Manuel Riemann ran out of his goal to cheer.
Source: Stern
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