FC Schalke 04 clinched their first win of the season on Saturday evening (09/10/22) in the derby against neighbors VfL Bochum. The 62,000 fans in the stadium experienced a fast-paced game in the 3-1 win for the hosts.
Schalke went in front through Dominick Drexler (38′), after the break Simon Zoller equalized for VfL (51′). The “first” winning goal for the home side came from an own goal by Erhan Mašović (73′), Sebastian Polter scored the final point in the last minute of added time (90 +5). Schalke jumped to twelfth place in the table, VfL continues to drag the red lantern of the league around with no points.
Asano injured himself after just 45 seconds of play
Bochum were unlucky in the early minutes when Takuma Asano twisted his ankle without the influence of an opponent and twisted his knee. Gerrit Holtmann replaced the Japanese.
Schalke took the initiative in the first meeting between the two neighbors in twelve years and created the first two chances to score through Simon Terodde (7th, 15th). Bochum wasn’t intimidated by this and at least managed to get close to the goal. Zoller missed the guests’ greatest chance when Schalke keeper Alexander Schwolow let a Holtmann shot deflect forward, but the Bochum right winger was unable to convert the template.
Drexler dusts off, Zoller stumbles the ball into the goal
A goalkeeper rebound put the home team in front on the other side: Marius Bülter tested Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann with a long-range shot. The goalkeeper parried, but let the ball bounce forward, where Drexler was just right and dusted.
Shortly after the break, Bochum received a somewhat surprising equaliser: Philipp Hofmann shot from the left towards the bottom right corner. Simon Zoller ran in the middle, actually wanted to jump over the ball, but stumbled into the shot and pushed the ball over the line.
Open exchange of blows, Schalke more purposeful and accurate
The game was now picking up speed. Goalscorer Drexler has to go out in the middle of the second period with an ankle injury, Simon Terodde hit the post (71st). Only two minutes later, however, Schalke celebrated: Tobias Mohr twirled a free kick from the right with a lot of cutting into the five. Bochum’s Erhan Mašović put his foot in the cross and deflected the ball with his right shin into his own goal. Polter scored with a header in stoppage time.
Schalke to the district derby in Dortmund
On Matchday 7, FC Schalke 04 will travel to Dortmund for the Revierderby (Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 3:30 p.m.). A day later, VfL Bochum welcomes 1. FC Köln (5:30 p.m.).
