After four years in the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum has to go back to the 2nd league. On the penultimate matchday, Mainz 05 was too strong at 1: 4 (0: 1). The Rheinhessen still have opportunities for international business.
VfL had to do without Philipp Hofmann in its sporty fate. At the last away game in Heidenheim, the center forward had physically knocked everything out, seriously injured with rib breaks and a lung collapse.
Pure pure from both teams
Without his “storm tank” it was said for VfL: full ride ahead. However, the Mainz this marched route hoping for Europe also followed, so a lively, offensive game developed from the kick -off. And the Mainz could have cheered for a hair after a minute. Jonathan Burkardt had prevailed on the right. His spacer shot was still deflected, so that VfL keeper Timo Horn had to bring everything to fish the ball out of the short corner.
Mainz stayed tuned. In the 9th minute, Maximilian Wittek was overflowed by Anthony Caci, whose flank landed at Phillipp Mwene, who had all the time of the world, to accept the ball 13 meters in front of the goal and to swell onto the long corner. Horn was beaten, but Ivan accommodated Ordets for his keeper on the line.
VfL: A lot of effort, little danger
VfL gave everything combative. With a lot of commitment and will, the path was searched forward and Mainz was actually pushed backwards. However – and that is nothing new for Bochum – not much happened at the front. The pass sequences ran somewhat fluently up to 20 meters in front of the goal. Then it hooked. Goal chances failed to do – a harmless header from Georgios Masouras to Matus Bero’s flank (28th) remained the only yield in the first half hour.
The high intensity and the high pace did not remain without consequences. Already in the minutes before the break, all actors on the lawn had to be deeply breathed in given the high temperatures.
Krauss foul, Amiri shoots, Mainz leads
So the minutes seemed to be uneventful until the half -time whistle by Schiri Tobias Stieler. But in the second minute of stoppage time, Tom Krauss drove his counterpart Mwene 21 meters centrally into the parade in front of his own goal. Nadiem Amiri took the time, aimed, ran and sank the ball precisely in the left corner – it was 0: 1. Stieler no longer whistled, sent the 22 players into the cabin.
The shock of the deficit put the Bochumer in the bones. Even after the change of sides. However, coach Dieter Hecking had substituted three new people – including the dribbler Gerrit Holtmann. And at least it shot at the goal. In the 47th minute of half -left, two minutes later from a central position. He missed each, but at least that was degrees.
Mainz determined – Mwene to 0: 2
Mainz remained more dangerous. In the 49th minute, Paul Nebel came to Wittek’s false pass in his own half from 15 meters to the shot – horn dipped and steered the ball to the corner.
What the VfL did not do did Mainz: In the 53rd minute, Jae -Sung Lee switched the fastest after a throw -in, fit to Mwene, which sank the ball from 16 meters in the long corner – 0: 2.
A Bochum fan holds a picture with the inscription “Love knows no league” in the camera
VfL gives the game lost
The “fair was read”, as they say. Although there was still over half an hour to play, the VfL players had given up the game. The insight against the also enthusiastic, playful but significantly better Mainz on this day had apparently spread.
Remarkable: Despite the depressing result, VfL fans loudly sang their soon visit to the second division. There is probably nothing about club loyalty. Twenty minutes before the end, Hecking also rewarded two long -time VfL players when he sent Anthony Losilla and Cristian Gamboa on the lawn.
Holtmann creates the honor goal
However, both of them could not prevent Burkardt from shot into the right corner in the 72nd minute after a solo from 20 meters and finally decided the game with the 0: 3. At least the VfL still managed to hit his honor: Holtmann took a measure of 18 meters seven minutes before the final whistle and hit flat into the right corner to 1: 3. The final point was not yet. Fog was released again in added time and hit the left of 17 meters flat to 1: 4.
Bochum in Hamburg, Mainz against Leverkusen
Bochum will be a guest at FC St. Pauli in Hamburg on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Mainz plays against Leverkusen at home. There is still a lot going on towards European business.