A lightning goal, an own goal, a lucky goal: VfL Bochum has made an impressive comeback in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. After six games without a win, the Westphalians deservedly defeated FC Augsburg 3-2 (1-1), improved at least until Sunday to 15th place, which was saved at the end of the season, and even dragged the Swabians into the relegation vortex again.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei had put VfL ahead after just 91 seconds. After Arne Maier's equaliser (29th minute), an own goal by captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (60') and a fortunate deflected shot by Bochum's captain Anthony Losillla (62') ensured VfL's home victory. Substitute Kelvin Yeboah, nephew of former Bundesliga top scorer Anthony Yeboah, scored his first Bundesliga goal in the 85th minute. With 34 points, Augsburg have a four-point lead over the relegation zone with two games to go before the end of the season, and it could shrink to three on Sunday.
It was the duel of the teams with the fewest chances in the league, but those who had expected a tired kick were immediately pleasantly surprised. Antwi-Adjei passed Maximilian Bauer from the left and drove the ball under the crossbar with his right from seven yards. The shot didn't seem untenable, but FCA keeper Tomas Koubek got his hands up too late. As a result, VfL moved up to the relegation zone in the live table, while Augsburg were only three points away.
Bochum celebrates goal in Munich
The hosts were now even more vocally driven by their supporters, who had already put on a beautiful blue and white choreography before kick-off. Augsburg were immediately forced to act as well, if they did not want to be dragged deep into the relegation battle - and promptly ran into a dangerous counterattack. At the end of which Takuma Asano did not hit the ball properly (8th). Five minutes later, Koubek made a good save on a 22-yard shot from Dominique Heintz.
After 25 minutes, the Bochum fans cheered again – but with a goal in Munich. Because when local rivals FC Schalke 04 fell behind at FC Bayern, the Bochum team even moved up to 15th place. But they quickly squandered it themselves when Maier took the first real chance for the guests from an acute angle. Dion Beljo had previously won the ball strongly against Philipp Förster and served Maier. A few years earlier, Philipp Hofmann had headed the ball into the goal net from three meters and made it 2-0. Ten minutes after the equaliser, the visitors suddenly had the lead on their feet, but Saidy Janko successfully blocked Ermedin Demirovic at the very last moment.
After the break, VfL almost took the lead even earlier with an own goal, but after Felix Uduokhai's unfortunate free-kick extension with his hip, Koubek reacted quickly (51st). Curiously, however, the Czech was beaten by his own man nine minutes later when Gouweleeuw, who had been very strong until then, extended a sharp pass from Antwi-Adjei with his knee into the far corner.
And less than two minutes later, something like half an own goal followed when former Bochum player Elvis Rexhbecaj deflected a shot from Losilla untenably for Koubek. The Bochum team celebrated exuberantly, even goalkeeper Manuel Riemann came running out of his goal to cheer along.