Defending champions VfB Stuttgart moved into the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup after a win against second division club VfL Bochum. The unlucky man on the VfL side was Philipp Strompf.
In front of 25,940 spectators in the Ruhstadion, the defender gave Stuttgart the lead with an own goal on Wednesday (12th minute) and flew off the pitch shortly before the half-time whistle after an emergency stop (45th + 1, according to video evidence). Deniz Undav took advantage of the advantage right after the break and made it 2-0 (47th) for VfB. It stayed that way
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß said afterwards in an interview with Sportschau: “It was a very good game for us. We took the lead early on and then went into the half-time break with the advantage. We then made it 2-0 early on. So nothing happened today against a team that is dangerous and that is simply good. So we are happy that we made progress here today.”
Bochum goalkeeper Timo Horn said about the own goal: “That was very unfortunate. That was very bitter and led to the defeat.” But his team has “Over long stretches, played a very, very good game.”
Strompf hits his own goal
Bochum had the first good chance. Kjell Wätjen picked up speed on the left, then moved into the middle and shot hard at the near post, but Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot almost heroically cleared the ball with his head. The subsequent corner was also dangerous, but VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow cleared it against Noah Loosli.
But Stuttgart scored the early goal. Bochum’s power supply Unfortunately, he extended a long throw from Ramon Hendriks with his head over his goalkeeper Timo Horn into the far corner.
Bochum misses opportunities
The Swabians then controlled the game and patiently played forward, but the well-positioned Bochum team hardly allowed anything to happen. And they put needle pricks forward. The equalizer almost came in the 20th minute. After winning the ball in midfield, Farid Alfa-Ruprecht was sent on his way and ran towards the Stuttgart goal alone, but his chip over Bredlow, who was storming out of his box, went wide.
VfL remained aggressive. After Wätjen had asserted himself nicely on the left wing, Alfa-Ruprecht and Francis Onyeka narrowly missed the equalizer in the middle. And when Finn Jeltsch slipped, Wätjen went for the goal again, but his finish was too weak. VfB was prone to errors in this phase, but Bochum couldn’t take advantage of it.
Own goal scorer Strompf flies off the pitch
Shortly before the break, the evening finally turned into a disaster for Strompf’s own goal scorer. After being the last man to receive the ball, he was too far ahead of himself, Strompf knocked down Deniz Undav as he followed up. Referee Florian Badstübner first showed the yellow card and then, after VAR advice and viewing the images, decided to send off the player.
Overall, VfL could be satisfied with their performance in the first half; the half-time deficit due to an own goal was more than unfortunate.
Undav scores shortly after the break
But immediately after the restart, the hosts had a cold shower: After a cross from the left from Jamie Leweling, Undav scored with his head.
The Stuttgart players around goalscorer Deniz Undav (from left) celebrate the 0:2 in Bochum
0:2 behind and one man less – the game turned into a Herculean task for the Bochum team. And Stuttgart did what you do as a Bundesliga team in such a situation – they let the ball and the opponent run. The Bochum team was almost exclusively occupied on the defensive and there was no chance of scoring a goal. However, there were no clear chances for the Swabians to score against the low-lying Bochum team.
In the final quarter of an hour, the Bochum team tried again, but only had half chances, which VfB easily defended. And at some point the game just bumbled towards its end.
Stuttgart now against Bayern
Bochum continues on Saturday (December 6th, 2025) with the second division game against Arminia Bielefeld (1 p.m.). Stuttgart welcomes FC Bayern in the Bundesliga at 3:30 p.m. The cup draw will take place on Sunday (7:15 p.m.) and will be broadcast live on Sportschau.