In a tough game in the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum and Werder Bremen shared the points. A win on Sunday (January 14, 2024) would have been a relief for both, but the game ended 1-1 (0-0).
Until the third minute of stoppage time, Bochum looked like the sure winner after a dream goal from Patrick Osterhage, but then Niklas Stark also scored, which was also very worth seeing. This means both teams remain six points ahead of the three relegation or relegation places.
To the live ticker: Bochum – Bremen arrow right 18th matchday arrow right
“When you concede the equalizer so late, it just hurts,” said Bochum’s Anthony Losilla after the game. He saw a clear foul play in the run-up to the goal. “It was a tough fight today. An even game,” he said.
The disappointment wasn’t just with him, but also with VfL coach Thomas Letsch: “It’s like déjà vu from the game against Mainz. A deflected shot that takes three points away from us,” said Letsch, who like Losilla wants to have seen a foul before the equalizer: “For me it’s a clear foul on Bernardo,” said Letsch. “It’s brutally disappointing. It’s not the first time this has happened, such a deflected thing in stoppage time,” said Patrick Osterhage, Bochum’s goalscorer for the 1-0 win.
Nesrin Elnabolsy, Sportschau, January 14, 2024 5:44 p.m
Nesrin Elnabolsy, sports show, January 14, 2024 5:30 p.m
Breme’s coach Ole Werner’s conclusion was much more positive: “I think it’s a fair draw. Before the game I wouldn’t have been happy with a point. After the way the game went, you just have to take it with you,” said Werner.
Nesrin Elnabolsy, Sportschau, January 14, 2024 5:30 p.m
First round not for gourmets
In order to get anything good out of the first half of this game, you had to have a special relationship with her. It only became remotely dangerous in the 34th minute, when Bochum’s Matus Bero scored from close range after a chance product, but was unable to get past Werder goalkeeper Michael Zetterer due to the acute angle.
The rest of the game? Lots of long balls, technical inaccuracies and duels. The time between the 23rd and 25th minutes was exemplary of the extremely weak first 45 plus four minutes in terms of football. First Kevin Stöger (saw the yellow card) rudely tackled Rafael Borré, followed by a pack formation including Stöger pushing Bittencourt. The Bremen player returned the favor a few seconds later with a kick on Stöger’s foot as the ball flew high in their direction again. Interest in combination football: obviously secondary for both teams.
Tim Wichmann, sports show, January 14, 2024 5:34 p.m
Bochum’s Osterhage makes us forget about the weak game
Bochum had apparently decided to change something after the break. Christopher Antwi-Adjej (48th) and Goncalo Paciencia (49th) had their first opportunities shortly after the restart after some nice attacks, but each missed the Bremen goal. Werder became dangerous for the first time after a corner. Marvin Ducksch crossed and Jens Stage finished – but his shot was blocked (58th). And a subsequent penalty check (Osterhage had fouled Justin Njinmah) also led to nothing because there had previously been an offside position.
No matter how little they liked the game, the spectators (apart from the Werder fans) were compensated for a lot in the 64th minute. Osterhage tried a long-range shot from about 25 meters and hit the ball right into the long corner to make it 1-0 for Bochum. A “goal of the month” goal. And incredibly important for VfL.
“I hit the ball really well. I’m happy about that,” said Patrick Osterhage. “If you don’t win the game, then the goal is nice, but not worth much in the end.”
Nesrin Elnabolsy, sports show, January 14, 2024 5:49 p.m
Bremen’s Stark also makes it worth seeing
Werder was now even more in demand, as the impending defeat would put them even further in the relegation vortex. Bittencourt and Mitchell Weiser took the first shots at the Bochum goal (77′). It wasn’t too dangerous, but at least Bremen got back into the game. But that was coming to an end.
Dawid Kownacki then missed Werder’s best chance to date and missed quite clearly from eight meters (81′). But Bochum didn’t stop their attacking game either, Zetterer had to make a great save after a deflected shot from Philipp Förster to prevent the score from being 0-2 (82′). And his colleagues refined Zetterer’s act: Kownacki also missed his second chance (87th), but then another long-range shot ensured Werder’s lucky equalizer. Stark hammered the ball towards the goal from 28 meters, Osterhage unfortunately deflected the ball so that it hit the bottom edge of the crossbar and landed just behind the goal line (90th + 3). And so a game that didn’t deserve a winner ended without a winner.
“Today we are happy about the point,” said equalizer Nklas Stark: “It was important that we stuck with it. We really wanted this goal.”
Nesrin Elnabolsy, sports show, January 14, 2024 5:57 p.m
Bochum against VfB, Werder at FC Bayern
VfL will now face VfB Stuttgart at home on matchday 18 (Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.). Werder has to play against FC Bayern 24 hours later.