With the second win of the season in the Bundesliga, Arminia Bielefeld has found new hope in the fight to stay in the league. Only three days after the 0-2 bankruptcy at Hertha BSC, the team of the criticized coach Frank Kramer prevailed against promoted VfL Bochum 2-0 (0-0) and reduced the gap to the relegation place at least temporarily to three Points. Bochum, on the other hand, is still in the middle of the table with 20 points.
After a cross from the right, Masaya Okugawa headed the lead for Bielefeld (51.). Patrick Wimmer made it 2-0 in the 69th minute in front of 13,750 spectators in the SchücoArena. For Ostwestfalen it was the first home win of the season in the ninth attempt.
Kramer previously spoke of an “important game” in which it is about “important points” in the relegation battle. The 49-year-old changed his starting line-up to three positions. Andres Andrade, Janni Serra and Florian Krüger started for Jacob Laursen (adductor problems), Fabian Kunze and Fabian Klos (both bank).
After a hard-fought early phase with many duels in midfield, Alessandro Schöpf made Bielefeld’s first very good goal opportunity after around 20 minutes. After a bad pass in the build-up game by Bochum’s captain Anthony Losilla, the ball landed at Patrick Wimmer, who immediately played on to Schöpf. But the Austrian failed from close range to goalkeeper Manuel Riemann.
Arminia stayed on the button
Just two minutes later, Wimmer’s shot was blocked. As a result, Arminia took control and tried again and again to be dangerous with shots from the second row (44th).
Bochum, on the other hand, needed 36 minutes to score the first chance. The guests countered through Gerrit Holtmann, who pulled into the penalty area, but there was the short straw on Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
After the break, the guests posted the first dangerous goal action through Christopher Antwi-Adjei. But his shot went just over the gate (48th). Just three minutes later, Okugawa took the well-deserved lead in Bielefeld. The home side stayed on the trigger, but failed several times on the last pass (56th), before Wimmer increased with the involuntary help of VfL keeper Riemann (69th). On Saturday (3.30 p.m. / Sky), the Arminia will be a guest at RB Leipzig before the Christmas break.
