Greetings from Christopher Antwi-Adjei: After beating Mönchengladbach, VfL Bochum was also successful in Augsburg in the Bundesliga. Bochum’s striker scored in the 1-0 (0-0) away win in the 59th minute. With 13 points now, the Ruhrstadters have made the connection to the lower Bundesliga midfield in good time before the winter break. FC Augsburg is now only two points ahead of VfL.
Both teams started the match day’s basement duel with some confidence, because recently both Augsburg and VfL Bochum had a sense of achievement to report. While Augsburg got a point at Union Berlin (2-2), VfL even celebrated a three-pointer in a 2-1 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Niederlechner fails early
However, it was the hosts who had the first chance: After a strong ball win by Ermedin Demirovic in the 3rd minute, Florian Niederlechner was free to head the ball after his cross, but placed it from the penalty spot too far away from the goal to be able to defeat VfL keeper Manuel Riemann.
Bochum catches up after 15 minutes
VfL struggled to get into the game, but after 15 minutes they created their biggest chance: Christopher Antwi-Adjei, who had already scored to make it 1-0 against Gladbach, reacted the quickest after a Bochum corner kick and shot first saved ball from half-right position but only on the outside of the post.
Afterwards, Bochum seemed a little more active, which after half an hour also had to do with the fact that FCA had to make two changes due to injury. Both Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Carlos Gruezo left through no fault of their own, with Ruben Vargas and Arne Maier replacing them.
Great chance for Bochum’s Zoller, goal by Antwi-Adjei
The flow of the game at Augsburg was disturbed – and the hosts almost conceded the 0:1 before the break whistle. After Antwi-Adjeis won the ball and crossed from the left, Simon Zoller ran in free from the center, but didn’t shoot the ball from eleven meters into the goal, but just missed it to the left.
The tough affair didn’t seem to get any better in the second half either, the first few minutes splashed along uneventfully. Until Bochum’s six, Kostas Stafylidis, suddenly had a flash of inspiration in the 59th minute. His chip ball from midfield landed in the run of Antwi-Adjei, who was faster than two opponents and poked the ball past the rushing FCA keeper Rafal Gikiewicz – 0: 1.
Berisha fails from the penalty spot
Bochum’s jubilation knew no bounds, but soon died down again. In a direct counter-attack, Mergim Berisha shot Bochum’s Zoller the ball in the VfL-16er’s hand – penalty kick. Berisha himself ran, but threw the ball well over the crossbar. A little later, Niederlechner also showed nerves. The double goal scorer from the last 2:2 in Berlin was served a ball perfectly by Robert Gumny in the 68th minute, but also steered it over the box from eleven meters.
That was it then with the Augsburg glory. VfL hardly had any problems keeping their opponents away from their own goal thanks to their concentrated defence. And celebrated the second three in a row.
Bochum in the basement duel against Hertha
After the winter break, VfL Bochum hosts Hertha BSC for a basement duel (Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Augsburg is challenged a day later in Dortmund (3:30 p.m.).