29th matchday Coach change in Bochum without much effect
Heidenheim’s Jan-Niklas Beste (front) in a duel with Bochum’s Felix Passlack. photo
© Fabian Strauch/dpa
Growing relegation concerns led Bochum to part ways with coach Thomas Letsch. The former U-19 coach Heiko Butscher is supposed to ensure rescue. But there is no liberation.
At VfL Bochum, the change of coach only paid off to a limited extent. In the first game under the direction of Letsch’s successor Heiko Butscher, the fourth-bottom team in the Bundesliga did not get beyond a 1-1 (0-0) draw against 1. FC Heidenheim. This means that the Revierclub remained winless for the seventh time in a row and still has to worry about staying in the league.
The gap to relegation place 16 shrank to one point. First, Keven Schlotterbeck (81st) put his team behind with an own goal, but then scored the celebrated equalizer in the 90th minute. The lead over the relegation place, which Mainhz 05 occupies, is now one point.
24,414 spectators in the Vonovia Ruhrstadion saw a match on a mixed level with two goals canceled according to video evidence. The guests underlined their reputation as a passable away team: only one of the last eight Bundesliga games away from home was lost.
The Bochum team, which had only changed in one position and had dramatically squandered a 1-0 lead in Cologne last week by conceding two goals in stoppage time, was clearly trying to make amends. From the start, VfL took control and put the guests under pressure. However, Heidenheim’s defense, which was well set up by coach Frank Schmidt, didn’t really falter.
The fact that both teams recently beat FC Bayern 3-2 was only partially reflected on the pitch. Although there was a lot of passion in the duels, there was a lack of playful creativity. Also the table 10, which is primarily concerned with securing goals. At first it was not possible to give structure to the wild game. Only with set pieces executed by specialist Jan-Niklas Beste was there a hint of a goal threat.
It wasn’t until the 28th minute that the spectators saw their first real chance to score, when Bochum’s left-back Bernado tested FC keeper Kevin Müller from a tight angle. When Kevin Stöger’s remarkable shot from 18 meters just missed the goal just four minutes later, VfL was even closer to 1-0.
Only gradually did the Heidenheimers free themselves from the pressure. After two missed chances by Tim Kleindienst (40th) and Kevin Sessa (41st), the lead seemed perfect shortly before half-time. But Beste’s goal (43′) was canceled due to a handball according to video evidence.
After the restart, the entertainment value increased. It was only with great difficulty that FC goalkeeper Müller was able to parry a shot from Takuma Asano (56th) from 14 meters and thus prevent his team from falling behind. Because VfL was also denied recognition for a goal by Asano (63′) a little later, according to video evidence, after VfL captain Anthony Losilla committed a foul on Patrick Mainka, the game initially remained goalless.
It was in keeping with Bochum’s streak of bad luck in recent weeks that an own goal from Schotterbeck seemed to seal the next defeat and in the end it wouldn’t even be enough to win a point. But Schlotterbeck averted this scenario at the last minute when he headed Stöger’s corner into the net.
dpa
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