Ice-cold Asanso duped TSG
Bochum celebrates the amazing Mr. Riemann
04/03/2022, 09:45 am
0-2 in the first half of the season, 1-2 in the second half of the season: promoted VfL Bochum is a bogeyman for TSG Hoffenheim this season. Japan’s Asano scores twice with great help from his own keeper. The guest fans are already singing euphoric songs.
Manuel Riemann danced in front of the fans of VfL Bochum in the guest corner and he shouted the popular “Never more… never more, never more – second division!” opposite. The goalkeeper and two-time goalscorer Takuma Asano were the celebrated pros in the 2-1 (1-0) win of the promoted team on Saturday at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The Kraichgauers let themselves be duped twice by the congenial duo and had to take the next setback in the Bundesliga in the race for a place in the Champions League. The Japanese Asano scored after a wide tee shot by keeper Riemann (28th and 59th minutes).
“I feel great. We won against a strong opponent, I was able to help the team with two goals. It doesn’t get any better than that,” said the scorer. “Of course we are absolutely satisfied and overjoyed to have taken three points here today,” said Bochum coach Thomas Reis. The guests consistently annoyed the TSG pros with the man marking he ordered. National player David Raum (54th) equalized for Hoffenheim in front of the eyes of national coach Hansi Flick. In front of 15,014 spectators in Sinsheim, Bochum made another big step forward in the relegation battle: The gap to the relegation place with Arminia Bielefeld is nine points.
Stafylidis stresses his ex-colleagues
Two weeks after the cup-throwing scandal in the aborted home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, VfL showed a courageous and disciplined performance. After the last so disappointing 0: 3 at Hertha BSC, the harmless Hoffenheim could not prove again that they are ready for the premier class. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’ team wore unfamiliar gray jerseys with orange ethnic patterns – on the occasion of their “Africa Match Day”, with which they wanted to draw attention to the consequences of the war in Ukraine for the African continent.
The men in white started more conspicuously: Bochum got off to a really bold start and tested TSG keeper Oliver Baumann with two dangerous long-range shots by Konstantinos Stafylidis (3rd) and Danilo Soares (11th). From the start, Stafylidis was one of the most conspicuous players in his team in the unfamiliar central midfield, also as a guard for playmaker Christoph Baumgartner. The Greek is on loan from Hoffenheim until the end of the season. TSG coach Hoeneß had already praised the development of the 28-year-old before the reunion.
“It’s a weapon”
After Bochum’s initial offensive, however, the hosts took control of the game more and more. Above all, Baumgartner and Andrej Kramaric found gaps in the VfL defense more and more often, but did not use them. With a shot like a dash into the left corner of the goal after a very strong kick from keeper Riemann, who also had strong moments in his core discipline “avoiding goals”, Asano goalkeeper Baumann surprised on the other side – 0:1. “We know that football-wise we have one of the strongest goalkeepers in the league, that’s a weapon,” said Reis later.
Riemann writes an amazing story this season. Once a great talent, he had to wait until the age of 32 before he could finally prove himself on the big stage. And he does it in an outstanding way. With strong saves, an outstanding build-up game, big gestures and converted penalties. Because Riemann, who had often slipped up in the past, plays so well, Bochum’s dream of staying up in the league is actually very close.
Immediately before the half-time whistle, Milos Pantovic, who had scored incredible long-range goals this season (e.g. from 60 meters in the first leg), should have increased to 2-0: After a bad pass from Angelo Stiller, he ran towards Baumann alone, but shot on gate over. After flank specialist Raum equalized himself, Asano once again punished Hoffenheim’s carelessness: Kramaric had previously missed two promising chances, Florian Grillitsch blundered the fast attacker on Riemann’s tee shot. “We had very good chances that we missed. That’s why we lost today to a really good Bochum team that had been ripped off,” said TSG coach Hoeneß.