With their backs to the wall, VfL Bochum has solved its week-long goal blockade and left the bottom of the Bundesliga table. The team coached by Thomas Letsch won 2-0 (1-0) at 1. FC Köln on Friday evening, it was the first win after four defeats without a goal of their own.
Kevin Stöger (9th) was the man for the turnaround, his badly shaky penalty kick found its way into the Cologne goal and freed Bochum. Ersan Masovic later increased (76th).
“We made a lot of slight mistakes in all areas. The boys invested a lot, but there was always a centimeter missing somewhere. Now it’s my job as a coach to offer solutions,” said Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart DAZN.
“Today we gave it our all and finally scored the goals. But that’s just the beginning, we haven’t achieved anything yet,” said Bochum’s Christopher Antwi-Adjei.
FC striker Davie Selke mourned the missed chances: “A well-deserved victory for Bochum? I don’t see it that way. Luck isn’t on our side right now. We were very present.”
VfL Bochum wins only for the second time at 1. FC Köln
Only for the second time in the 31st attempt did VfL win a Bundesliga guest game in Cologne, jumping ahead of the other games of the day in the extremely tight basement to 14th place. Cologne is 12th in the table. Although they are still eight points ahead of the relegation zone, they have to look further down after just one win in the last eight games.
Bochum’s coach Letsch had already announced a trend-setting game during the week, he said they wanted to “press the reset button” – but the starting conditions were not ideal. The team bus was stuck in a heavy traffic jam around the stadium in Müngersdorf, VfL arrived with a significant delay and only had about half an hour to warm up.
And at least the start of the game seemed to be expected: after just 30 seconds, Cologne’s Ellyes Skhiri completed a dangerous shot – but Manuel Riemann, who had recently slipped up in the 0:2 against Schalke, held.
Stöger’s penalty slipped under Schwäbe
In the following minutes it was also a difficult evening for VfL against the powerful Cologne team, but then Timo Hübers fouled the fast Christopher Antwi-Adjei on the edge of the penalty area. Stöger’s penalty slipped under FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe.
With this first goal in weeks, Bochum gained security, now won many tight situations, looked for counterattack opportunities – and found them. Takuma Asano finished dangerously twice (13th/31st). The guests tended to be more dangerous than Cologne, which had brought their own problematic series with them: FC had not scored in five of the previous six games.
The second half of the game, which was still fast-paced and good-class at the beginning, was much more confused. Bochum defended conscientiously and in a structured manner, Cologne also repeatedly allowed themselves misunderstandings on the offensive, and there were no real chances to score for a long time. Stöger’s actually unsuccessful free-kick trick put Masovic in position in the final phase, he scored from the crowd.
1. FC Cologne – VfL Bochum: The voices
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “We made a lot of slight mistakes in all areas. The lads invested a lot, but there was always a centimeter missing somewhere. The first action by the opponent is a penalty. The processes went well, but it wasn’t enough. It’s the same now my job as a trainer to offer solutions.”
Thomas Letsch (coach VfL Bochum): “We threw ourselves into everything, didn’t allow much. Today we showed everything that is crucial in the relegation battle. It was about accepting the last eleven games. Today we made a good first step.”
1. FC Cologne – VfL Bochum: The data for the game
Köln: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector – Skhiri, Martel (77th Olesen) – Ljubicic (67th Huseinbasic), Kainz (77th Lemperle) – Maina (78th Adamyan), Selke (67th Tigges). – Trainer: Baumgart
Bochum: Riemann – Staphylococcus (71. Janko), Ordets, Masovic, Soares (46. Heintz) – Losilla, Osterhage (82. Broschinski) – Stöger – Asano (81. Kunde Malong), Hofmann, Antwi-Adjei. – Trainer: Letsch
Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)
Tore: 0: 1 Stöger (9th, penalty), 0: 2 Masovic (76th)
Viewers: 50,000 (sold out)