Bochum bamboozle Eintracht Frankfurt to ensure first win of the season
A scoring blitz from VfL Bochum that included strikes from Philipp Hofmann, Philipp Förster and an Evan Ndicka own goal helped Thomas Letsch's team to a first Bundesliga win of the campaign.
Bochum 3-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Hofmann 71' (assist: Förster), 2-0 Ndicka (o.g.) 87', 3-0 Förster 90'+1
Both of these teams were experiencing contrasting fortunes prior to their meeting on Matchday 9. Hosts Bochum were bottom of the Bundesliga pile having failed to enjoy a three-pointer all season. Eintracht, on the other hand, found themselves rubbing shoulders with the division's best in the top five. That Oliver Glasner's men had picked up 12 points in their previous five outings was, in part, down to the superb showings of recent arrival Randal Kolo Muani. With the France international suspended for this game, the visitors lacked a cutting edge in a tepid first half. Lucas Alario tried his best to make up for Kolo Muani's absence, the birthday boy directing a low shot past the near post before drawing a solid save from Manuel Riemann soon afterwards. At the other end, Gerrit Holtmann's scuffed shot into the arms of Kevin Trapp was as good as it got for Letsch's side in the opening 45.
Frankfurt had inflicted a first defeat of the season on leaders Union Berlin last weekend and Die Adler emerged for the second half looking hungry to make it three top flight wins in a row. The returning Mario Götze showed his intent with a shot from distance that flew wide of the target. Rafael Borre went even closer when the Colombian spun inside the box and whacked an effort against the post. With Bochum managing a league-low total of just five goals going into this game, it was difficult to see where the home side could make inroads. The answer came in the form of a set piece. With the game passing the 70-minute mark, Förster's inswinging corner was perfectly measured for Hofmann, who nodded confidently into the corner. The local celebrations were to get even louder. Förster's free-kick into the centre causing consternation as the sun blazed down on the Frankfurt box, Ndicka's crucial touch took the ball past Trapp. Bochum weren't done yet. Involved in his team's opening two goals, Förster latched on to a throw in before eventually smashing home to cap an astounding finish to the game.
Match stats
- Bochum collected their first win of the season and kept a clean sheet for the first time this term too.
- After scoring only five goals in the first 790 minutes of the season, Bochum netted three times in the last 20 minutes
- Eintracht suffered their first away reverse of the campaign.
- Bochum's 44th corner of the season finally produced a goal.
- Hofmann scored Bochum's first headed gaol of the campaign. It was also the first time the forward netted with a header in the Bundesliga.
- Frankfurt forward Lucas Alario turned 30 on the day of the game.
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Teams
Bochum: Riemann - Gamboa, Masovic, Ordets, Soares - Förster, Losilla (c), Osterhage (Stafylidis 60') - Zoller (Antwi-Adjei 72'), Hofmann (Ganvoula 81'), Holtmann (Osei-Tutu 81')
Unused subs: Esser, Lampropoulos, Oermann, Janko, Goralski
Out: Asano (knee), Grave (shoulder), Heintz (muscular), Mousset (ill), Stöger (not included)
Coach: Thomas Letsch
Frankfurt: Trapp (c) - Jakic (Chandler 46'), Tuta, Ndicka, Pellegrini (Lenz 78') - Dina Ebimbe, Sow (Rode 60') - Lindström (Alidou 78'), Götze (Kamada 61') - Alario, Borre
Unused subs: Ramaj, Smolcic, Wenig, Knauff
Out:Buta (knee), Kolo Muani (suspended), Onguene (groin), Toure (muscular)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
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