Bochum wrestles a point from Frankfurt
Controversial penalty fuels Ruhrstadion hell
September 16, 2023, 8:27 p.m
Like every year, VfL Bochum is one of the league’s big relegation candidates. They have the Ruhr Stadium. What this piece of jewelry can do is demonstrated in the evening game against Eintracht Frankfurt. In a heated and furious game, VfL scores a point after a controversial penalty.
Eintracht Frankfurt gave up their first away win in ten months in the Bundesliga and missed out on making it into the extended top group. At VfL Bochum, the undefeated Hessians had to settle for a 1-1 (0-0) despite being in the lead. A year ago, Eintracht even provided support in the Ruhr region and helped VfL to their first win of the season.
The Bochum team recorded their third draw in a row, but are still waiting for their first three points. Eric Dina Ebimbe (55th) gave the guests the lead, but the goal was only recognized after video evidence. Kevin Stöger equalized for Westphalia with a penalty kick (74′).
Thomas Letsch, who celebrated his first win as VfL coach against Frankfurt on October 8, 2022 (3-0), did not make any changes to his team compared to the 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg before the international break. Dino Toppmöller, who was a professional at Castroper Straße for a year 22 years ago, made two changes compared to the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Köln: last-minute newcomer Niels Nkounkou, a goalscorer as a joker two weeks ago, also moved into the starting line-up like the ex-Berliner Jessic Ngankam.
Frankfurt celebrates with a delay
Bochum started off strong and aggressive as usual – and with a surprising first chance: Stöger saw that Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp was well in front of his goal and tried a long-range shot from almost 30 meters, but Trapp deflected it onto the crossbar with his fingertips (3.). But Frankfurt also had top-class opportunities early on through Ngankam (7th) and Dina Ebimbe (11th), who were denied by goalkeeper Manuel Riemann.
Riemann also made a desperate save against Hugo Larsson (22nd), before Trapp parried a shot from close range by Takuma Asano on the other side (24th) – the game remained intense and the pace was high. But the chances to score became rarer, and Bochum’s visually superior team in particular barely found their way into the penalty area.
After the break, Toppmöller brought on Omar Marmoush and Fares Chaibi for Ngankam and Nkounkou. Marmoush initiated the opening goal: Riemann was able to fend off his shot, but the keeper was powerless against Dina Ebimbe’s follow-up shot. But the Frankfurters were only able to celebrate after a delay because it was initially ruled offside. However, the Cologne cellar reversed the decision.
Then, somewhat surprisingly, referee Benjamin Brand whistled a penalty when Iwan Ordez went down in the Frankfurt penalty area.