Highlights
D. Aytekin
90'
+ 5
BOCHUM VICTORIOUS
And there is the final whistle. Home coach Thomas Letsch punches the air in delight. His side have picked up only their second win of the season and this one was fully deserved against the Bundesliga leaders. VfL are - momentarily at least - off the bottom of the standings.
Full-time
90'
+ 3
PANTOVIC PULLS ONE BACK
The ball breaks to Pantovic in the area and he wellies a left-footed finish on the bounce that flies into the back of the net. That penalty miss is really going to sting if the game finishes like this.
87'
Substitution
86'
RIEMANN PRAISE
Manuel Riemann has saved more than half of all the penalties he has faced in the Bundesliga (8 saves from 14 spot kicks). This season, the VfL shot stopper is the only goalkeeper to have saved three penalties, having previously denied Sadio Mane and Vincenzo Grifo.
81'
BOCHUM PRESSURE
Holtmann has a chance wide on the right followoing some fine work by Bochum sub Ganvoula. Holtmann's shot is blocked, however, and Union survive this time.
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
77'
RIEMANN SAVES!!
Pantovic's penalty is at a perfect height for the Bochum keeper who makes a two-handed saved to maintain Bochum's two-goal lead.
77'
UNION PENALTY
Penalty Union! The visitors have been offered a lifeline after the referee came to check his monitor for a possible foul by Masovic on Leite.
75'
SituationPenalty
ReviewFoul?
DecisionPenalty
72'
BRILLIANT FROM BOCHUM
A poor Union free kick allows Bochum to counter and the hosts do so in style. Some super slick pass and movement and suddenly Christopher Antwi-Adjei is away down the left. His cross to the far post is perfectly timed for Holtmann, who side-foots home first time. That's a lovely goal. Bochum are looking home free now.
71'
Substitution
70'
RYERSON YELLOW
Ryerson pulls back Holtmann and that's a yellow card for the Union man, who protests to the ref that it was his first foul.
68'
Goal attempts
3off target
3on target
3off target
1on target
65'
BOCHUM CHANGES
Goalscorer Hofmann makes way to huge applause while there is also a big cheer for Osei-Tutu, who impressed during his time on the pitch.
65'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
64'
UNION'S TRIPLE SWAP
Triple change for the visitors as Urs Fischer looks for a big improvement from his side, who are headed for defeat here unless things dramatically change.
63'
Substitution
63'
Substitution
63'
Substitution
62'
BOCHUM HIT THE BAR
The ball is worked back Osei-Tutu who flashes a shot from the edge of the D at goal and looks on in despair as the ball clips the top of the crossbar and flies over.
61'
PANTOVIC OFF TARGET
Pantovic tries a curling shot to the far post but Riemann is already jogging slowly to prepare for the goal kick before the ball flies wide. Union need a spark from somewhere. The home fans are in full voice.
59'
xGoals
xGoals
1
0.38
0.09
1
Goals
56'
OSEI-TUTU OK TO CONTINUE
Osei-Tutu was down receiving treatment but the 24-year-old is back into the action now as his side go in search of a second.
51'
UNION CORNERS
Union with a couple of corners from the right taken by Trimmel. A lack of accuracy allows Riemann to clear handily enough on both occasions. Union haven't really clicked at all today.
49'
OSEI-TUTU TESTER
Osei-Tutu conjures a terrific opening on the edge of the area before firing over the crossbar with a curling shot. That's a bit of a let off for Union. Osei-Tutu should really have hit the target there.
BOCHUM AND SET PIECES
© Imago
46'
BACK UNDERWAY
The ball is rolling in the second half. Can Union get back into this or will Bochum hold on for a much-needed win?
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
HALF TIME
There's the break. Bochum have been the better side in the opening 45 minutes and take a 1-0 lead into half time thanks to that Philipp Hofmann header just before the whistle.
Half-time
44'
BOCHUM AHEAD
Union mess around at the back and give the ball away. Osei-Tutu eventually has a fine shot that draws a super save from Rönnow. From the resulting corner, Hofmann rises highest and heads in to give Bochum a deserved lead.
41'
SO CLOSE ANTWI ADEJI
Gamboa's whipped cross from the right just evades Antwi-Adjei, who made a hell of a diving effort to reach the ball.
37'
JORDAN CHANCE
A corner is slid into Jordan, whose snapshot take a deflection and seems to roll in slow-motion towards the goal. Riemann scrambles across and dives on the ball, stopping it not short of the line.
36'
JAECKEL BOOKED
Osei-Tutu looks to race into some space but is chopped down by Jaeckel. Yellow card for the Union man.
32'
xGoals
xGoals
0
0.13
0.0
0
Goals
26'
BOCHUM SET PIECE
Bochum win a free kick wide on the right. Gamboa takes his time over it. The cross eventually comes in and Hofmann meets it with a header which Rönnow catches easily.
23'
BECKER IN THE MIX
Becker sniffs out a chance on the left but his efforts don't produce the desired effect and Bochum are on the move once again.
20'
HABERER EXITS
Haberer - last week's two-goal hero against Dortmund - has hobbled off following that challenge from Ordets. Milos Pantovic comes on for the visitors.
20'
Substitution
17'
ORDETS IN THE BOOK
A nasty challenge from Ordets on Haberer has left the Union man in a bad way. It's a yellow card for Ordets.
14'
FINDING FÖRSTER
Philipp Förster gets some space inside the area on the left and fires a shot at goal which Leite does well to block wide. The subsequent corner comes to nothing.
12'
Possession (%)
5248
10'
UNION ALIVE
A Trimmel corner comes to nothing as Union finally get going here. It's taken the team in red and white some time to get into their shape.
3'
LIVELY START
There's a super atmosphere inside the Vonovia-Ruhrstadion as both sides look to take a foothold in the game. Bochum are edging it in these early stages. Union's Frederik Rönnow is forced into early action, the goalkeeper fisting clear a menacing cross.
1'
KICK OFF !
Away we go in Bochum. Can Union extend their lead at the top of the standings or will Bochum pick up a rare victory? Let's find out ....
Kick-off!
BECKER AND JORDAN
© Imago
UNION TEAM NEWS
Like Bochum, Union also advanced to the Pokal Round of 16, the Irons ousting Heidenheim from the tournament during the week. There are six changes to the Berliners' team today compared to the side that began the aforementioned 2-0 triumph with Rönnow, Khedira, Jaeckel, Gießelmann and Trimmel all coming back in. USMNT striker Jordan returns having shaken off a thigh niggle.
BOCHUM TEAM NEWS
© Imago
UNION SUBS
Grill, Ryerson, Seguin, Behrens, Skarke, Haraguchi, Baumgartl, Pantovic, Leweling
UNION STARTING XI
Ronnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Schäfer, Khedira, Haberer, Gießelmann - Becker, Jordan
BOCHUM SUBS
Esser, Osterhage, Oermann, Stafylidis, Holtmann, Lampropoulos, Heintz, Ganvoula, Horn
BOCHUM STARTING XI
Riemann - Gamboa, Masovic, Ordets, Soares - Losilla (c), Stöger – Osei-Tutu, Förster, Antwi-Adjei – Hofmann
"NO NEED TO HIDE"
Bottom-placed Bochum may have been thumped 4-1 by Stuttgart on their last Bundesliga outing, but a midweek DFB Cup win against Elversberg took today's hosts into that tournament's last 16, raising the mood around the Vonovia-Ruhrstadion. "There’s no need to hide," Bochum coach Thomas Letsch said in the build up to today's game. "In the recent two home matches we managed to draw with Cologne and even win against Frankfurt. Every victory gives us more confidence."
FISCHER FOCUSED
© Imago
BOTTOM VS. TOP
Bochum face one of the toughest tests in European football as Bundesliga leaders Union come to town. VfL have occupied last place for eight consecutive matchdays, while Union have topped the table for five. Stranger things have happened - Bochum beat Frankfurt not all that long ago - but this is a Union team that can do no wrong right now. How Bayern would love a favour from rock-bottom Bochum...
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