VfL Bochum beat Luton Town 2-1 in the first part of the double test. New signing Bernardo made his debut and an attacker had to be substituted after a foul.

Part one of VfL Bochum’s season-opening double test ended with a 2-1 (1-1) over Luton Town. A week before the season opener against Arminia Bielefeld in the first round of the DFB Cup, VfL showed a marked improvement in contrast to the previously weak test matches against the Premier League promoted team.

VfL started the match with a three-man backline and with the three newcomers Noah Loosli, Lukas Daschner and Felix Passlack in the starting eleven. The Brazilian Bernardo, who was signed during the week, initially took a seat on the bench in the first test.

VfL got off to a good start, showing the 8400 spectators a much changed face compared to the previous test matches. The home side not only had the first chance through Philipp Hofmann (4th), but also quickly took the lead in the opening phase. Newcomer Lukas Daschner made a good run in midfield and served Kevin Stöger perfectly – the deflected finish from ten meters gave the Bochum team the lead (9th).

Overall, the Bochum team, and Daschner in particular, put in an impressive performance. First, the newcomer served attacker Takuma Asano, who failed to head past goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski (24th), then he himself aimed just over from distance (27th).

With the first real scoring chance for Luton Town, however, that was history and Bochum’s standard problems from previous tests were back. From a corner kick, the defense gave Tom Lockyer too much space and the captain nodded in powerfully for the equalizer (38th). With the conceded goal, VfL lost the thread a little, but went into the dressing room with the 1:1.

In the second half Bernardo celebrated his VfL debut, Loosli stayed in the dressing room for him. And the newcomer had a dream debut. Shortly after the change of ends, Stöger’s long ball found the starting Asano perfectly, who, chased by two defenders, shot in unstoppably to make it 2:1 (51.).

Also in the second half, VfL managed to keep control for the most part. However, the chances left much to be desired and the best opportunities to make it 3:1 were missed. Substitute Matus Bero (72nd) and Stöger (74th) as well as Hofmann and Christopher Antwi-Adjei with a double chance (75th) could not increase the score.

Rude foul on Asano

However, there was still a shock moment for VfL: After a rude foul play, goal scorer Asano had to be treated and eventually led off the field.

After the second part of the test match double-header against Luton Town, VfL’s focus will finally turn to the start of the regular season. Next Saturday (August 12, 6 p.m.), the team heads to the Alm to face Arminia Bielefeld in the cup. with gp