Bochum as good as promoted: eleven-goal mad game in the 2nd Bundesliga

Sunday, May 09, 2021

Bochum as good as risen
Eleven-goal mad game in the 2nd Bundesliga

VfL Bochum is almost certain to return to the Bundesliga. However, Erzgebirge Aue and SC Paderborn provide the greatest spectacle in the 2nd Bundesliga. Six goals were already scored at halftime, and in the end there were even eleven goals. SV Sandhausen is still in problems.

VfL Bochum – Jahn Regensburg 5: 1 (2: 1)

Second division leader VfL Bochum has taken a big step towards promotion to the Bundesliga. VfL clearly won against Jahn Regensburg after a deficit with 5: 1 (2: 1) and two games before the end of the season are five points ahead of their closest rival Greuther Fürth. Due to the home success, in which Robert Tesche had an immense share, the Bochumers have at least the third place in relegation.

Andreas Albers scored the 1-0 lead for Jahn (26th), but Tesche (29th) and an own goal by Jan-Niklas Beste (38th) led VfL to winning ways until the break. Gerrit Holtmann (61st), Robert Zulj (78th) and Silvere Ganvoula (90th + 1 / penalty kick) made the decision in excess after Regensburg’s Benedikt Saller saw the red card (59th). Bochum still needs two points from the games in Nuremberg and against Sandhausen to be promoted.

The leader of the table, who had to do without his top performers Danny Blum and Manuel Riemann, had a hard time against the compact guests at the beginning. Albers shocked the leaders with the 0-1 when he headed a cross from Beste. But VfL replied promptly, Tesche scored well worth seeing from 20 meters to his fifth goal from the last four games. It was also Tesche who initiated the VfL lead before the break: Beste unluckily fended off his cross into his own net.

After the break, the situation got even better for VfL: First, Benedikt Saller was sent off with red after video evidence after he hit Holtmann with a kick in the calf. Only two minutes later, Holtmann increased after a pass from Zulj, before Zulj himself set the final point.

Erzgebirge Aue – SC Paderborn 3: 8 (2: 4)

SC Paderborn confirmed its positive trend in a completely wild game with eleven goals. In a memorable duel between the midfield clubs near Erzgebirge Aue, the team of outgoing coach Steffen Baumgart turned 2-0 down in the first round and later won 8-3 (4-2). Paderborn has not lost five games in a row.

Dennis Srbeny (10th / 73rd), Sven Michel (31st / 59th), Chris Führich (41st, hand penalty), Bastian Schonlau (45 + 1), Christopher Antwi-Adjej (78th) and Chadrac Akolo ( 82.) shot the relegated Bundesliga to victory. Dimitrij Nazarow (1./4./56, penalty kick) scored three times for Aue. With 46 points, Paderborn is comfortably in the midfield – nothing goes up or down. The same applies to Aue with five counters less.

The game was thus the second division game with the highest number of goals in this millennium, the previous record from 2010 (5: 5 between Energie Cottbus and Karlsruher SC) was exceeded. The all-time record, meanwhile, dates back to 1997, when 1. FC Kaiserslautern won 7: 6 against SV Meppen.

The hosts got off to a great start in the Erzgebirgsstadion, after just 35 seconds Nazarow volleyed a cross from Ben Zolinski. Three minutes later, Florian Krüger hung up for Nazarow, who had no problems from seven meters. In the course of the first half Paderborn got better into the game and took control. First Srbeny shortened before Michel later Aue goalkeeper Michael Männel shot the ball through his legs to equalize. The SCP was now on the trigger. Before the break, Chris Führich converted a penalty from Aues Sören Gonther’s handball.

Then it got strange: A header from SCP defender Bastian Schonlau was initially saved by Keeper Männel, but he involuntarily steered the rebound back into the goal with his foot himself. Also in the second section it went wild birds, both lines of defense made mistakes. Paderborn, however, made better use of it.

1. FC Heidenheim – SV Sandhausen 2: 1 (0: 1)

SV Sandhausen suffered another bitter setback in the fight against relegation. The team of coach Gerhard Kleppinger had to admit defeat with 1: 2 (1: 0) despite the lead at 1. FC Heidenheim. The SVS are in 15th place two games before the end of the season, tied ahead of Eintracht Braunschweig (31) on the relegation place.

Striker Daniel Keita-Ruel (43.) gave the guests the lead, but Patrick Mainka (59.) and Tim Kleindienst (82.) turned the game for FCH. For Sandhausen it was the 15th away defeat in the 16th game and the third bankruptcy in a row. The Heidenheim team around coach Frank Schmidt in sixth place in the table still have minimal chances of promotion, the deficit on the relegation place is five points.

In an intense and balanced encounter, scoring opportunities were initially in short supply. For the FCH, Kleindienst headed the best opportunity to lead (40th), which Keita-Ruel succeeded shortly afterwards. The 31-year-old French took advantage of a hair-raising mistake by FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller, who hesitated far too long to tee off. After the break, Mainka was there for a rebound after a strong free kick from Marnon Busch. In the final phase, Kleindienst remained ice cold after a counterattack with a low shot.