Hannover 96 may have squandered crucial points at VfL Bochum in the promotion battle of the 2nd Bundesliga.
With the 1-1 (0-0) draw, the 96ers missed out on jumping into second place for direct promotion. If SV Elversberg wins their game on Sunday, it would be almost out of reach and there would be a long-distance duel with Paderborn for the relegation place on the last match day. The Bochum team showed a committed performance in their last home game of the season in front of a magnificent and loud backdrop and are beyond good and evil in the table.
Hanover with a duty to win
Clearly, in the tight promotion race, the 96ers needed a three-pointer so as not to be dependent on the results of the competition from Elversberg and Paderborn. After the Paderborn mistake on Friday, Hannover would climb into a direct promotion spot with a win, at least until the Elversberg game on Sunday. “There is a good atmosphere and conviction in the team”said coach Christian Titz. According to Titz, the disappointing 3:3 against Münster did not leave any lasting traces.
Bochum, lying in midfield and already saved, was able to take a more relaxed approach. Nevertheless, the people of Ruhrstadt had planned something. “We want to finish the season in the best possible way. I also said to the team this week: We owe that to our fans, the league and ourselves. We will give it our all tomorrow and want to try to win the game.”said coach Uwe Rösler.
Hannover inhibited, Bochum dangerous twice
But first it was the guests’ turn. Hannover were superior in the first few minutes, but just as harmless as Bochum. The only upset in the first quarter of an hour: Bochum’s Mats Pnewig twisted his knee in a challenge and limped off the pitch (15th). Kjell Wätjen came for him. It took 21 minutes until the first dangerous chance: Hannover’s captain Enzo Leopold played a bad pass into the foot of Bochum’s Moritz Kwarteng. He picked up the pace and narrowly missed the right post with a hard shot.
Hannover, on the other hand, lacked determination. The promotion candidate appeared inhibited and harmless, the Bochum team turned their penalty area into a restricted zone. How good that at least the hosts set an offensive accent again. Another shot whizzed just past Hannover’s goal. This time at the left corner, shot by Francis Onyeka (39th). That was it for the first half, which was more like summer football in May.
Bochum and Hanover are releasing the handbrake
Hannover came out of the locker room more awake – which quickly paid off on the pitch. Substitute Elias Saad pulled the ball in front of the second post after a short corner from the left side. Defender Maik Nawrocki went forward and nodded the ball into the near corner (50th). Just a little later, the people of Bochum also celebrated. Farid Alfa-Ruprecht beautifully shot the ball from the right corner of the penalty area into the far corner to make it 1-1 (55th). Both teams had released the handbrake and the fans now saw a completely open game.
But what didn’t prove to be permanent: things calmed down again. 96 did more – but not enough. And was lucky that Gerrit Holtmann’s shot whizzed just a few centimeters past the left corner (79′).
As a result, the guests slowly opened the final offensive and had a few opportunities, although not essential ones. And while the Bochum fans loudly celebrated their team after the final whistle, the 96ers trotted off the pitch with their heads hanging.
Bochum in Karlsruhe, Hanover against Nuremberg
Bochum is a guest at Karlsruher SC on the last matchday. Hannover welcomes 1. FC Nürnberg (both Sunday, 3:30 p.m.).
