Berlin. VfL Bochum is putting an exclamation mark in the relegation battle. At Union Berlin, VfL won 4:3 (3:0). The live ticker for reading.
In a rollercoaster game, VfL Bochum took a huge step towards staying in the league and massively exacerbated the relegation worries of 1. FC Union Berlin, which had been desolate for a half. The Revier club inflicted the next painful defeat on the Iron team with a score of 4:3 (3:0). Even an enormous increase in performance after the break was of no use to the Berliners. The race to catch up was not crowned. There is only one point from the last six games under (current) coach Nenad Bjelica.
While the Bochum team go into the last two matchdays of the Bundesliga with a small cushion and can no longer be relegated directly, a Union rescue in the condition of the first half only seems possible if the competition from Mainz and Cologne no longer scores enough points. Three goals conceded in the first half, that was the first Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig in August 2019. Back then it was a lesson, this time it was a dismantling and a mortgage that was too big for the second half.
Union Berlin against VfL Bochum 3:4: The live ticker to read
+++VfL Bochum visits FC Union Berlin: the live ticker for the game+++
Maximilian Wittek (16th/31st minute), Keven Schlotterbeck (37th) and Philipp Hofmann (70th) scored the goals for the relieved guests on Sunday in the sold-out stadium at the Alte Försterei with 22,012 spectators. Yorbe Vertessen (59th), Chris Bedia (62nd) with his first Bundesliga goal and Benedict Hollerbach (74th) provided ultimately worthless moments of hope for Berlin.
VfL Bochum sets off fireworks in the first half
Coach Heiko Butscher did not dare to experiment at 1. FC Union Berlin and relied on the team that had set off real fireworks in their home win against TSG Hoffenheim last Friday. Only the yellow-suspended captain Anthony Losilla had to be replaced – by Patrick Osterhage, who was suspended last week. Kevin Stöger led the VfL team onto the field as captain and is considered a possible summer signing for the Union.
VfL Bochum surprised Union Berlin in the first half. Maximilian Wittek scored twice. © firosportphoto / HMB | Uwe Koch
Where there is a crisis, there is a lot of talking. This is no different at Union. Before kick-off, club boss Dirk Zingler vehemently contradicted the “Kicker” report that Bjelica would be over in the Köpenick district after the season anyway. The team follows the coach, said Zingler at DAZN. The expiry date of the media confession could now quickly be reached. With their performance up to the half-time whistle, the Iron Men did not give the impression that Bjelica had given any impetus to the longed-for rescue.
The Bochum team exposed their deficits with their first quick attack. Wittek had little trouble shooting in a cross from Moritz Broschinski to give VfL the lead. Because it was so easy, the 28-year-old repeated his work on his own fifteen minutes later. Four Union professionals looked on politely from a safe distance that was not football-related.
Goalkeeper Manuel Riemann from VfL Bochum screams after conceding another goal: Union Berlin is back in the game. © DPA Images | Andreas Gora
“Wake up,” the fans chanted. The deep sleep of the Iron Ones continued. Schlotterbeck – a non-relegation hero in Union’s debut season in the Bundesliga in 2020 – was invited without resistance to score the third goal for the visitors. “We’re staying in,” the Bochum fans chanted.
VfL Bochum brings victory over time
Conceding three goals against FC Bayern in a 5-1 defeat in the second half was just about bearable about two weeks ago. But against Bochum? There was a team on the pitch without any enthusiasm, without any will. But important words must have been spoken at halftime. After three changes (Aaronson, Bedia, Vertessen) and a tactical change, the Union’s fighting spirit was back. The goals from Vertessen and Bedia were forced in Union style. But there was no Berlin happy ending. With his goal, Hofmann showed the center forward qualities that Union lacks, even if Hollerbach provided hope again.