Bundesliga promoted VfL Bochum has again proven its home strength and defeated a supposedly stronger opponent in the Ruhrstadion. Against TSG Hoffenheim, coach Thomas Reis’s team won 2-0 (0-0), driven by 19,600 loud spectators, and remained clean for the fourth time in their fifth home game.
Milos Pantovic spread his arms wide and let the fans celebrate in the deafening noise of the Ruhrstadion – the shooter from VfL Bochum was already jumped at, pressed and splashed with water by his teammates.
With his goal from his own half, Pantovic (90. + 7) set the final points under this crazy 2-0 (0-0) of the promoted team against TSG Hoffenheim.
Manuel Riemann’s first path also led to Pantovic, after all, the Bochum goalkeeper had missed with his penalty shot (76th) to calm the mood early on. VfL had to tremble for a long time in front of the onrushing guests, until Pantovic got the ball after a Hoffenheim corner, where TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann had also rushed forward, and sank it in the abandoned goal.
Soma Novothny (65) had previously taken the lead shortly after being substituted on. “I can’t describe how happy I am,” said the scorer overjoyed: “This will make a dream come true for me.”
VfL Bochum catches up with midfield
With the victory in the direct duel, VfL managed to catch up with the middle of the table and, with 13 points, moved up to one point on TSG. For the fourth time, Bochum remained without conceding a goal in their fifth home game.
Hoffenheim took command after a quarter of an hour and narrowly missed the lead twice: First, goal scorer Andrej Kramaric circled the ball from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar (16.), then a lob from Ihlas Bebou landed on the goal net (19.) . On the other side, Danny Blum had the greatest chance to date from 16 meters, but narrowly missed (35th).
Insane penalty miss from Riemann
Shortly after the break, Riemann fished a shot from Florian Grillitsch from over 30 meters with one hand from the right corner (53rd). After more than an hour, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was also able to distinguish himself for the first time. He cleared a placed Eduard Löwen free-kick to the side (62nd).
Shortly afterwards, Bochum took the lead. Novothny hit completely detached from the head. Then it got strange: Novothny went to the ground after a duel with Grillitsch in the penalty area, but while the ball was still in play, Grillitsch pushed the goalscorer – and there was a penalty.
Cup hero Riemann, who had converted the decisive penalty against FC Augsburg, hurried forward to the cheers of the audience – and shot the ball well over the goal. A little later, Bochum was still able to cheer about the Pantovic art shot.
VfL Bochum – TSG Hoffenheim: The voices of the coach
Thomas Reis (coach Bochum): “We knew in advance what kind of quality the Hoffenheim team was. We ourselves did a pretty good defensive job. We were always very good, but we didn’t push through enough pressure. In the second half it was an open one Game that can tilt in both directions. Of course, it’s nice when you replace two players who are involved in the goal. We were also lucky in the end to bring home the win. “
Sebastian Hoeneß (coach Hoffenheim): “We are disappointed, served and do not agree with the result. In the first half we managed not to let Bochum get into the game like that. We felt the game under control, even after the break. A 0: 1 is allowed in in a game that is pointed at the button. Then it becomes difficult in such a cauldron. Then we lost ourselves emotionally for a short time. After the missed penalty, we played out our clear superiority situations too sloppily. “
