While Fürth coach Stefan Leitl sent the same starting eleven onto the pitch for the fourth time in a row, there was VfL four changes compared to DFB-Pokal quarter-finals against Freiburg (1-2 after extra time): Defender Danilo Soares, midfielder Eduard Löwen and attacking players Christopher Antwi-Adjei and Sebastian Polter were back in Bochum’s starting XI.
The game in front of 19,800 spectators in the Ruhr Stadium started evenly – but at a moderate level, scoring chances were rare. Bottom of the table Fürth presented itself mostly harmless, while Bochum tried to play fast on the flanks, but initially without any compelling actions in the penalty area.
Cup unlucky Leitsch meets the VfL leadership
Bochum then took the lead after a standard situation: VfL midfielder Eduard Löwen curled a free kick near the left corner of the penalty area onto goal, Fürth goalkeeper Andreas Linde was only able to steer the ball to the crossbar; But Bochum defender Maxim Leitsch, who had moved up, pushed the ball over the goal line from close range to make it 1-0 (35′).
It was the first Bundesliga goal of his career for 23-year-old Leitsch, who had conceded the decisive goal three days earlier with a mistake in the 120th minute of the cup game against Freiburg.
Fürth more powerful after the break
After that, the guests from Middle Franconia became more active and tried to put more and more pressure on the Bochum goal, especially after the break.
The equalizer came as a surprise and with the help of the hosts: Fürth’s Timothy Tillman crossed the ball far into the Bochum penalty area to his teammate Branimir Hrgota; the Swede put the ball across the goal, the ball bounced against the body in the six-yard box VfL-Central defender Armel Bella-Kotchap and from there into the Bochum goal (64th).
The Bochumers were not shocked by the own goal. the VfL did more for the game after the equalizer and hit back quickly: After a corner, Bochum captain Anthony Losilla was able to artistically hold the ball in the center of the penalty area and shot at goal with his left hand from around eleven meters. The shot was deflected and landed in the bottom right corner of the goal net (71′).
Fürth fought, but the Bochum defense held out in the final phase. So it remained with the acclaimed seventh Bochum home win of the current Bundesliga season. While the Bochum fans “No more second division” intoned, Fürth is still waiting for his first away win of the season.
Fürth now against Leipzig, Bochum has to go to Frankfurt Frankfurt
Fürth will meet RB Leipzig on Sunday (March 13, 2022), Bochum will face Eintracht Frankfurt.