Relegation-threatened Bochum grabs vital win over leaky Hoffenheim
Bochum's Maximilian Wittek, left, and Hoffenheim's Ozan Kabak battle for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Bochum and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany, Friday April 26, 2024. Credit: AP/David Inderlied
BOCHUM, Germany — Kevin Stöger scored twice as Bochum won for the first time in nine Bundesliga games by a nervy 3-2 over a leaky Hoffenheim on Friday.
Hoffenheim has not kept a clean sheet for 26 games, a record run for the Bundesliga side.
Hoffenheim remained in ninth place after missing a chance to leapfrog Augsburg and Freiburg and move into seventh.
Hoffenheim had a penalty award rescinded after a video review midway through the first half and then fell behind to a superb Stöger free kick after 34 minutes.
Bochum made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time when a defensive howler gave Felix Passlack a free shot on goal from six yards out.
Stöger added a third with a simple tap in after Oliver Baumann parried Moritz Broschinski’s effort.
Andrej Kramarić then ensured a jittery finale for the home side by scoring twice.
Bochum's Felix Passlack celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Bochum and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany, Friday April 26, 2024. Credit: AP/David Inderlied
Bochum was still not out of relegation danger. The win lifted it into 14th place, eight points clear of the two automatic relegation spots with five matches remaining.
