With its back to the wall, VfL Bochum has released its week-long goal blockade and left the bottom of the Bundesliga table. The team of coach Thomas Letsch won on Friday evening at 1 FC Cologne with 2:0 (1:0), it was the first victory after last four defeats without own goal.

Kevin Stöger (9.) was the man for the turnaround, his shaky foul penalty found its way into the Cologne goal and freed the Bochum. Later, Ersan Masovic (76.) increased after an actually unsuccessful free-kick variant.

For only the second time in the 31st attempt, VfL won a Bundesliga guest game in Cologne, jumping to 14th place before the remaining games of the matchday in the extremely narrow basement. Although still eight points ahead of the relegation places, must look down after only one win from the last eight games.

Bochum coach Letsch had already called a trend-setting game during the week, they wanted to "press the reset button," he said - but the starting conditions were not optimal. The team bus was stuck in a dense traffic jam around the stadium in Müngersdorf, VfL arrived with a significant delay, there was only about half an hour left to warm up. And at least the start of the game seemed to be expected: After just 30 seconds, Cologne's Ellyes Skhiri finished dangerously - but Manuel Riemann, who had recently failed in the 0:2 against Schalke, held.

Also in the following minutes against powerful Cologne a difficult evening for VfL emerged, but then Timo Hübers fouled the fast Christopher Antwi-Adjei on the edge of the penalty area. Stöger's penalty slipped under FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe.

Conscientious defence

With this first goal in weeks, Bochum gained security, decided many close situations for themselves, looked for counter-opportunities - and found them. Twice Takuma Asano finished dangerously (13./31.). The guests now tended to be more dangerous than Cologne, which had brought its own problematic series: In five of the previous six games, FC had not scored.

The second half of the at the beginning still fast and good game was then much more divided. Bochum defended conscientiously and structured, Cologne also allowed themselves misunderstandings in the offensive again and again, there were no real scoring chances for a long time. Stöger's actually unfortunate free-kick trick brought Masovic into position in the final phase, he scored from the crowd.