Matchday 15 - Major setback for Union: Berlin lose in Bochum
1. FC Union Berlin suffered a heavy blow in the relegation battle at VfL Bochum. Coach Nenad Bjelica's team deservedly lost 3-0 (0-1) to the local club. Instead of continuing their slight upward trend and overtaking their direct rivals in the battle to stay in the Bundesliga with a win, the Köpenickers are now six points behind VfL in the Bundesliga.
In front of 25,300 spectators at the Ruhrstadion, Union were at almost no point able to build on their performance in the previous week's 3:1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Four days after their Champions League exit against Real Madrid (2:3), the surprise team of the previous season was harmless up front and vulnerable at the back. Takuma Asano (45.+5), Goncalo Paciencia (54.) and Kevin Stöger (78./foul penalty) scored the goals for the highly superior hosts. Bochum remained unbeaten for the fourth home game in a row and moved away from the relegation zone for the time being.
At the start of the match, the stands were largely silent in protest at a DFL investor deal. On the pitch, things got off to a fast start. Both teams looked for a quick and straightforward way forward. After a cross from Cristian Gamboa, Stöger only just missed the early 1:0 for Bochum (3').
VfL, in particular, got into the game well and gained increasing advantages. After twelve minutes, however, referee Sven Jablonski had to stop the game. Union fans had thrown tennis balls onto the pitch, causing a four-minute break. Chocolate coins also flew onto the pitch - Bochum's attacking player Asano opened one and ate it.
The interruption did not throw the hosts off their stride. Bochum remained dangerous. Striker Paciencia failed to beat Union keeper Frederik Rönnow with a great chance, Patrick Osterhage shot over the goal from a promising position and Asano also failed to get past Rönnow. At the other end, Janik Haberer had the first real chance for the visitors after more than half an hour. Bochum defender Keven Schlotterbeck cleared just off the line.
Just when it looked like it would be 0-0 at half-time, VfL were rewarded for a good first half. After a corner from Stöger, Asano drilled the ball into the net for a deserved lead.
And Bochum went one better. Goalkeeper Manuel Riemann made quick work of a Berlin attack and initiated a textbook counter-attack. The strong Asano and Christopher Antwi-Adjei played the ball into the penalty area to Paciencia, who shot in to make it 2:0.
Union coach Bjelica tried to create some momentum from outside the box. However, his triple substitution after an hour did not change the balance of power. Bochum had the game well under control and even increased the lead to 3:0 with a penalty after video evidence.
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- Despite the setback against Bochum, Union still has a chance in the relegation battle, given they are only six points behind VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga.
- The loss to Bochum meant Borussia Mönchengladbach's surprising striker Takuma Asano did not get to extend his impressive goal-scoring run in the Bundesliga.
- Union's defeat at Bochum had an impact in North Rhine-Westphalia, one of Germany's most significant revierclubs in Soccer.
- In the build-up to the Bochum match, many Union fans expressed their dissatisfaction with a recent DFL investor deal, leading to a tense atmosphere at the Ruhrstadion.
- After suffering a heartbreaking 2:3 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League, Bochum seized the opportunity to record their fourth consecutive home victory in the Bundesliga.
- VfL Bochum's coach, Sven Jablonski, who was once a Union player and now part of CDU/CSU in Berlin, received mixed emotions from the spectators during the game.
- Union's goalkeeper, Frederik Rönnow, had to make several crucial saves to prevent the Bochum team from extending their lead, but unfortunately, he could not prevent their third goal, a foul penalty converted by Kevin Stöger.
- With the defeat to Bochum, Union briefly found themselves involved in a relegation battle alongside VfL Bochum and fellow Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg, both teams struggling to secure their place in the top-flight soccer league.
- Union's henchman Kevin Stöger, however, came out as one of the match's standouts, scoring one goal and creating another during the club's fourth successive home victory in the Bundesliga, boosting their confidence ahead of vital Bundesliga games to come.
Source: www.stern.de
