MAnuel Riemann danced in front of the supporters of VfL Bochum in the guest corner and the popular “Never more… never more, never more – second division!” echoed back to him. The goalkeeper and two-time goalscorer Takuma Asano were the celebrated pros in the promoted team’s 2-1 (1-0) win at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday. The Kraichgauers let themselves be duped twice by the duo and had to accept the next setback in the race for a place in the Champions League. The Japanese Asano scored after a long drive from goalkeeper Riemann (28th and 59th minute).
“Of course we’re absolutely satisfied and overjoyed to have taken three points here today,” said Bochum coach Thomas Reis with a gleam in his eyes. The guests consistently annoyed the TSG pros with the man marking he ordered. National player David Raum (54th) equalized for Hoffenheim in front of the eyes of national coach Hansi Flick. In front of 15,014 spectators in Sinsheim, Bochum made another big step forward in the relegation battle: The gap to the relegation place with Arminia Bielefeld is now nine points.
Two weeks after the scandal surrounding the cup being thrown at the linesman in the aborted home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, VfL showed a courageous and disciplined performance. After the last so disappointing 0: 3 at Hertha BSC, the harmless Hoffenheim could not prove again that they are ready for the premier class.
Conspicuous Stafylidis in central midfield
Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’ team wore unfamiliar gray jerseys with orange ethnic patterns – on the occasion of their “Africa Match Day”, with which they wanted to draw attention to the consequences of the war in Ukraine for the African continent. The men in white made a more conspicuous start: Bochum started boldly and tested Oliver Baumann, the Hoffenheim goalkeeper, with two dangerous long-range shots by Konstantinos Stafylidis (3rd) and Danilo Soares (11th).
From the start, Stafylidis was one of the most conspicuous in his team in the unusual central midfield, also as a guard for playmaker Christoph Baumgartner. The Greek is on loan from Bochum until the end of the season from Hoffenheim. Before the reunion, TSG coach Hoeneß had praised the development of the 28-year-old. After Bochum’s initial offensive, the hosts took control of the game more and more.
Above all, Baumgartner and Andrej Kramaric found more and more gaps in the VfL defence, but didn’t use them. With a shot like a beam into the left corner of the goal after a very strong kick from goalkeeper Riemann, Asano goalkeeper Baumann surprised the other side – 0:1.
Immediately before the half-time whistle, Milos Pantovic should have made it 2-0: After a bad pass from Angelo Stiller, he ran towards Baumann on his own, but shot wide of the goal. The Serb scored 2-0 in the first leg from over 60 meters. After flank specialist Raum equalized himself, Asano once again punished Hoffenheim’s carelessness: Kramaric had previously missed two promising chances, Florian Grillitsch made a crucial mistake when Riemann’s tee shot hit the fast attacker. “We had very good chances that we missed. That’s why we lost today to a really good Bochum team that had been ripped off,” said Sebastian Hoeneß after the game.
