In their first Bundesliga Saturday evening match, VfL Bochum first slumped after a good start including a 1:0 lead in their comparison with the dangerous 1. FC Köln, only to come back to draw 2:2.
Thomas Reis would have liked to carry the momentum into this 20th Bundesliga matchday after the strong 3:1 after 0:1 in the DFB Cup round of 16 against Mainz 05, the Bochum coach had made that clear in advance. But things were to turn out differently in the clash with 1. FC Köln, who were fighting for international business and had themselves lost 4-3 on penalties to second-division side HSV during the week.
But first things first: The visitors from the cathedral city started with a lot of changed personnel (Modeste, Duda, Schaub were there from the start) as well as the permanently installed number 1 keeper Schwäbe and needed a little time. Striker Modeste hung in the air except for a shot over the crossbar (23rd minute), while there were several chances on the other side. Pantovic (6th) and Holtmann (17th), however, missed them. But because the “Effzeh” defence then showed itself to be badly organised on a simple free kick by Bochum, Holtmann marked the deserved 1:0 with a shot through Schwäbe’s legs (25th).
Slapstick and Modeste lob turn the game
Why did VfL still go into the break trailing 1:2? First of all, it was due to a curious Kainz corner which, after Özcan’s header, was immediately passed by Leitsch, Löwen and Bella Kotchap to Hübers. The 25-year-old, in his 13th Bundesliga appearance, did not take long to score under the crossbar for the celebrated 1:1 equaliser (36th). After a mistake in the Bochum build-up shortly before the end of the first 45 minutes, Kainz was also allowed to pass to the free-standing Modeste – and the Frenchman cheekily lifted the ball over Riemann, who was positioned too far in front of his box, for what was at that point a surprising 2-1 lead (45th minute).
Asano brings Bochum back
Shortly after the restart, the 2:2 would have been possible, but Schwäbe, who was strong this evening, saved against Pantovic, before Löwen, who had been released, shot over from close range (53rd).
In the following, there was a lot of idle time, which was due to many duels, interruptions and changes. Cologne’s Ljubicic had to leave the field for Uth (64th). At least VfL joker Polter (65th) and centre-back Bella Kotchap (68th) came close to Schwäbe’s box. Otherwise, however, Cologne stood compactly, hardly let anything go amiss with concentrated defensive work and a bit of toughness, and waited for the counter-attack to make the decisive 3:1.
And this attitude or rather the too passive play should take revenge in the 70th minute: A simple throw-in landed in front of Polter, who was lucky enough to set up Asano. Osterhage, who also came on as a substitute, could even have made it 3-2 (84th minute), but all in all the 2-2 was the appropriate result on this evening – even if there had been more chances for the promoted team. Both clubs should be able to live with this result, as they are still in the safe midfield of the league. FC are now unbeaten in five away games.
Bochum play Hertha after the two-week Bundesliga break, on Friday from 8.30pm, Cologne on Saturday (3.30pm) against Freiburg.
