VfL Bochum was once again able to rely on Philipp Hofmann in the 2-1 (1-0) win on Sunday in the direct relegation duel against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The striker scored twice and ensured that Bochum can look forward to another season in the 2nd Bundesliga with cautious optimism.
Not all the fans in Bochum’s Ruhrstadion had sat down in their seats when the rest of them jumped up again: match winner Hofmann scored in the 1st minute to take the early lead. At the beginning of the second half he made it 2-0 (56th) with his twelfth goal of the season.
Fürth appeared to be too harmless for a long time, only scoring through Noah Futkeu in the 87th minute and remaining in 17th place in the table. In the extremely tight and exciting relegation battle, the “clover leaves” still have relegation in their own hands.
SpVgg coach Vogel: “Everything is still possible”
“Anyone who follows our performances knows what makes us strong and what we can do“said Fürth’s coach Heiko Vogel after the final whistle in the Sportschau interview. “That also applies to the last three games. Everything is still possible.”
VfL coach Uwe Rösler, however, warned against premature joy: “We’ve taken a huge step, but we’re not through“he said.”We have to develop the same power away from home that we have recently shown at home games.”
Rösler brings “power” to the starting line-up with Hofmann
Rösler changed to four positions after the 2-0 away defeat against Dresden. Among other things, he was able to rely on the recently strong Hofmann at the top of the attack, who was injured last week.
And he only needed 48 seconds to prove once again how much power Bochum can develop with him. As has often been the case recently, he benefited from a big defensive mistake by his opponent – but also from his presence in the penalty area.
Hofmann: “I’m just in a good mood at the moment”
Maximilian Wittek crossed the ball from the half field into the crowded Fürth penalty area. SpVgg defense chief Philipp Ziereis, who could have calmly intercepted the cross, slipped away and could only watch as the ball sailed on to Hofmann, who was then completely free. Hofmann stayed cool, loaded Fürth’s keeper Silas Scheckrock and pushed the ball into the free corner to make it 1-0.
Philipp Hofmann is Bochum’s life insurance: in his last four games he was directly involved in eight goals.
“Of course I’m a bit lucky that the defender slips“, said the goalscorer later in the Sportschau interview, “But then you have to do it that way first and react quickly.” When asked where his good run came from, Hofmann remained just as calm as he was in front of the opposing goal: “I’m just in a good mood at the moment.”
The low-risk half-time between Bochum and Fürth is bubbling away
The following 44 minutes of the first half offered little reason to get up from your seats. The Bochum fans in the sun-drenched Ruhr Stadium saw a controlled performance from their team – but also clean defense from Fürth, who avoided further defensive mistakes and reduced their willingness to take risks to a minimum.
Futkeu (27th) and Branimir Hrgota (39th) had two promising chances to equalize, but only hit the crossbar and the left post. Accordingly, Bochum went into the break with a narrow lead.
Hofmann show against Fürth continues
In the second half it was Hofmann again who caused the greatest danger. Almost every time he got the ball in the offensive third, the Fürth team floundered. In the 56th minute he jumped highest on a corner from Wittek and cleverly extended the ball from the first post into the far corner. Jannik Dehm actually stood there well and tried to clear the ball for his beaten goalkeeper on the line, but only sent the ball under his own roof.
Hard to stop in the air: Philipp Hofmann scores with a header to make it 2-0.
Ten minutes later, Hofmann almost improved his appearance with a third goal. After two consecutive corners from Wittek, he narrowly failed, first because of the strong test skirt and then because of the linesman. He had already celebrated the supposed 3-0, but teammate Noah Loosli was offside in the chaos in the penalty area just before.
Fürth scores too late
Fürth showed itself to be combative, but far too rarely came dangerously in front of the Bochum goal. With his back to the wall and just a few minutes before the final whistle, Futkeu poked the ball into the goal past VfL keeper Timo Horn, who was already on the ground.
In Bochum, unrest arose again in the final phase, which was probably painfully long for the VfL fans. In the five minutes of stoppage time, Fürth had a few shots and critical situations in the penalty area, but the fourth goal of the afternoon was not scored. So Bochum achieved the victory they ultimately deserved with an unnecessarily high pulse at the end.
Bochum in Bielefeld, Fürth against Nuremberg
With the win, Bochum increased the gap to the relegation place to a comfortable six points. Because there are still five teams between VfL and 1. FC Magdeburg in 16th place, it is unlikely that the Bochum team will be seriously endangered again.
On Saturday lunchtime next week (May 2nd, 2026, 1 p.m.) they can make the final decision against relegation competitor Arminia Bielefeld. Fürth welcomes 1. FC Nürnberg on Sunday afternoon, for whom nothing is at stake this season (1.30 p.m.).
