Liberation for VfL Bochum and the new coach Uwe Rösler: The longed-for home win against Hertha was achieved 3:2 (2:0).
The goals for VfL were scored by Berlin’s Michal Karbownik with an own goal (13th) and twice by Francis Onyeka (32nd, 60th). Berlin’s goals were scored by Luca Schuler (72′) and Fabian Reese (80′) with a penalty kick. With the win and now six points in the account, VfL moved into the lower midfield in the table. Hertha remains at eleven points.
Rösler had made changes to the game system, had a chain of four at the back and also created a stable diamond in the midfield. Philipp Hofmann had returned to the center of the attack, and Gerrit Holtmann was allowed to play on the left from the start as a tempo player.
Holtmann forces an own goal
And it was precisely these two players who gave Bochum the early lead: Hofmann secured a long ball in the center, passed it out to Holtmann on the left, whose touchdown hit Hertha defender Michal Karbowniak unfortunately on the shin and from there jumped into the net to make it 1-0 (14th).
Before the game, both coaches spoke of a “match of mentalities”. This game will be decided by will, said Rösler and Stefan Leitl. And it was precisely this desire that Bochum brought more onto the pitch in the first half. Dangerous at the front and consistent at the back against the hesitant Berliners.
Onyeka’s solo makes it 2-0
But the 2-0 was thanks to a brilliant individual performance. After Berlin captain Fabian Reese lost the ball, VfL countered decisively. The young Onyeka received the ball, played a one-two with Hofmann before, after a delay, coldly placing the ball inside in the left corner – 2-0 (32nd).
VfL was on course, but had to fend off Hertha, who finally attacked more vehemently, until the break. With a bit of luck, VfL survived good scoring opportunities for Paul Seguin, Marten Winkler and Jon Torsteinsson unscathed.
Leandro Morgalla from Bochum on the ball
Onyeka for the second – 3:0
The game – or so it seemed – was not yet decided. For Rösler’s team it was about: Just not conceding an early goal in the second half. That worked – with a bit of luck and a lot of effort, Hertha was kept away from their own goal.
And it was just a bit of luck at the front that gave VfL what seemed to be the decisive 3-0: Hertha’s Toni Leistner and keeper Tjark Ernst were at odds over an otherwise harmless ball – Hofmann intervened, passed across and Onyeka only had to push the ball into the empty goal (60th).
Hertha rears up
Hertha seemed defeated, but picked themselves up again. Reese cleverly initiated a dangerous move on the right in the 72nd minute, Schuler held out the sole of his foot in the center and the score was only 3-1. And suddenly the people of Bochum began to flutter.
Reese – who had switched to the right side of the attack – made steam from the right. And his next dribble led to a penalty because Wittek unfortunately ran into his heels in the penalty area – the fouled man himself converted to make it 3-2 (80th).
The Bochum victory hung by a thread. Hertha pressed, pushed and played on the VfL goal. Keeper Timo Horn was able to parry a header from Hertha’s Linus Gechter (88th) from very close range. That was it – VfL survived injury time and had the longed-for three points.
Bochum in Kiel, Hertha against Düsseldorf
Bochum next plays in Kiel on Saturday afternoon (1:00 p.m.). Hertha plays in the top game, on Saturday evening, at home against Düsseldorf (8.30 p.m.).