Despite leading 2-0, VfL Bochum lost 3-2 at TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 2 of the Bundesliga.

VfL Bochum is still waiting for its first points in the young Bundesliga season. Coach Thomas Reis’ team was even leading 2:0 at one point. In the end, the match against TSG Hoffenheim was lost 3-2 shortly before the end.

Double Zoller not enough

The visitors from Bochum had started so well. After a ten-minute period, the first real VfL attack gave them the lead. Kevin Stöger had too much space on the left and crossed to the far post. Philipp Hofmann was waiting there and instead of heading at goal, he had an eye for the better-positioned Simon Zoller. From less than five metres, he only had to push the ball over the line.

Less than two minutes later, the same pattern, this time from the other side: Hoffenheim did not seem to have learned much from the 0:1. Once again, no TSG defender felt responsible for Stöger. Again he pulled the ball to the second post and again Zoller was on the spot. 2:0 Bochum, less than a quarter of an hour played.

Old familiar coordination problems

But TSG also showed double-strike qualities. First, Christoph Baumgartner took advantage of a Riemann slip-up, who tried to hold on to a shot by Andre Kramaric but let it bounce right to the feet of the goalscorer (14th minute). In the 23rd minute, the familiar problems of the 1st matchday in the VfL defence of standard situations were revealed. Ozan Kabak was able to run up unhindered in the penalty area, climb up at the first post and head in without a chance for Riemann.

Up until half-time, it was TSG who were the more offensive. But the hosts were not able to create any big scoring chances. The only shots came from long range. Shortly before half-time, the Bochum team had a brief moment of shock: captain Anthony Losilla was down for a short time after a collision with Geiger, but was able to continue playing in the second half.

VfL started the second half with more momentum and tried to invest more in the offensive. Whenever Bochum became dangerous, Zoller was not far away. But his shot from an acute angle, set up by Takuma Asano, only hit the outside of the net (49th).

The two teams neutralised each other in midfield until Losilla lost sight of Baumgartner and could only stop him in the penalty area with a foul – penalty for TSG (58.). Kramaric shot it half-high into the left corner, but he did not count on the penalty killer Riemann, who speculated correctly and was able to save the ball.

Penalty area scenes were then rather scarce. Both coaches were busy changing players in temperatures beyond 30 degrees. But even the drinking breaks did not make the teams more active. In the last 15 minutes, Bochum concentrated more on defence and tried to secure the away point.

Then came the 88th minute: a corner for TSG, high alert for the Bochum rearguard. But again the coordination did not work. Substitute Sebastian Rudy crossed to the first post after the short corner kick, Munas Dabbur, also a substitute, was able to go into the ball without resistance and score the 3:2 winner for the hosts.