Bochum won for the first time since shocking Bayern Munich 4-2 on Matchday 22, beating relegation-threatened Greuther Fürth 2-1 thanks to goals from Maxim Leitsch and Anthony Losilla.

Bochum 2-1 Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Leitsch (35'), 1-1 Bella-Kotchap (o.g 64'), 2-1 Losilla (71')

After a slow start, Andreas Linde was called upon to make the first save of the day 15 minutes in, punching clear Eduard Löwen's free-kick before Christopher Antwi-Adjei volleyed the rebound well wide. Linde's opposite number Dominik Reimann had a let-off at the other end midway through the half when he miscontrolled a backpass before winning a goal-kick against the onrushing Jamie Leweling. It was Linde picking the ball out of his net first, though. Bochum won another free-kick on the left and although the big Swede got a hand to Löwen's subsequent top corner-bound shot, Leitsch was on hand to poke home from close range. Elvis Rexhbecaj then fizzed an effort wide from range with half-time looming, and the hosts went in for the break with a well-deserved 1-0 lead.

Gerrit Holtmann created a good chance for Sebastian Polter soon after the restart, but the big striker was in two minds as to whether to shot or find Antwi-Adjei at the back post and ending up doing neither. A hopeful Armel Bella-Kotchap long ball forward nearly fell for Holtmann minutes later, but the winger missed his control by inches. Fürth punished that profligacy just past the hour when Branimir Hrgota's volley from a Timothy Tillman cross bounced off Bella-Kotchap and beyond Riemann for 1-1. Parity only lasted for seven minutes, though, with Bochum captain Losilla poking home the winner after a defensive mix-up in the Fürth area.

Match stats

• Leitsch scored his first goal since a June 2020 win for Bochum over St. Pauli in Bundesliga 2.
• The centre-back is one of 13 different scorers for Die Unabsteigbaren this season. Polter leads the way with seven.
• Bochum have claimed 24 of their 32 points on home soil, and are yet to lose successive games at their Ruhrstadion this term.
• Fürth are unbeaten in their last six home games, but have picked up a league-low one point from a possible 39 on the road.
• Fürth head more than 50 percent of possession and completed 80 more passes than their hosts.
• Tillman was their best attacking outlet with two shots, as well as the cross which led to Fürth's goal.

Watch: Leitsch: "I was shocked that I scored!"

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Line-ups

Bochum: Riemann - Gamboa (Stafylidis 74'), Bella-Kotchap, Leitsch, Soares - Löwen (Pantovic 65'), Losilla (c), Rexhbecaj (Masovic 90'+1) - Antwi-Adjei (Blum 74'), Polter, Holtmann (Asano 65')
Unused subs: Esser, Osterhage, Bockhorn, Lampropoulos
Out: Decarli (knock), Locadia (knock), Tesche (ankle), Zoller (knee)
Coach: Thomas Reis 

Fürth: Linde - Meyerhöfer, Griesbeck, Viergever, Itter (Willems 46') - Seguin, Christiansen (Pululu 82'), Tillman (Green 82') - Dudziak (Nielsen 46') - Leweling (Abiama 67'), Hrgota (c)
Unused subs: Burchert, Asta, Bauer, Raschl
Out: Funk (knee), Jung (knee), Kehr (knee), Ngankam (knee)
Coach: Stefan Leitl

About the clubs

VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

SpVgg Greuther Fürth

Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer