On the 10th matchday of the Bundesliga, the knot broke at VfL Bochum. In the basement duel at SV Darmstadt 98 on Friday (November 3rd, 2023), VfL won their first win of the season with a 2-1 (1-1).
Takuma Asano (25th, 54th) was Bochum’s man of the day with a brace. Shortly before the break, Fabian Nürnberger (43′) managed to equalize for the promoted team from Hesse, who were outnumbered in the final phase after a red card against captain Fabian Holland (70′). With the victory, Bochum overtakes the “Lilien” in the table and leaves the relegation places with eight points. After their third defeat in a row, Darmstadt slipped further and further down with seven points.
The hosts got off to a better start. After just nine minutes, Tim Skarke put the game’s first exclamation mark with a powerful shot against the post. Bochum’s Kevin Stöger was able to deflect an attempt from Luca Pfeiffer (19th).
Takuma Asanso strikes with the first chance
Bochum used their first offensive action to take the lead. The Darmstadt defense deflected a Stöger pass into the path of Asano, who coolly finished alone in front of the goal to make it 1-0. The guests then defended passionately. Darmstadt didn’t come up with much – and yet they equalized before the break. Nürnberger nodded a header into the net from the bottom left to make it 1-1. The Hessians celebrated again in stoppage time, but Christoph Klarer was offside when he scored from a free kick.
Bochum came out of the break with more momentum and immediately rewarded themselves. The Bochum team brought an unsuccessful long ball from 98 goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen into the path of Asano, who made it 2-1 with a shot from half-right into the far corner. But Darmstadt fought back. Christian Gamboa was denied from a tight angle by VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann (61′). A little later Pfeiffer put a shot wide (62′).
Emergency brake from 98 captain Fabian Holland
The guests were waiting for a counterattack. When substitute Moritz Kwarteng escaped down the left half, 98 captain Holland was the last man to pull out his leg and was shown a red card for the action (70′). Nevertheless, Darmstadt continued to fight for the equalizer and Bochum countered.
Substitute Goncalo Paciena failed in a counterattack due to shoes, as did Bernardo in the follow-up shot (80th). Darmstadt continued to fight. Nürnberger hit the post with a free kick from the right wing (85th). But it was no longer enough to equalize.
Darmstadt welcomes Mainz, Bochum against Cologne
The “Lilien” will be challenged at home against Mainz 05 on the next matchday (Saturday, November 11th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Bochum will face 1. FC Köln in the groundbreaking next basement duel in the evening (6.30 p.m.).
