Bochum paid the price for a poor start to the game against Kaiserslautern, as Konrad Fünfstück got his first win in charge of the Red Devils.
Team news
For the first time this season, Gertjan Verbeek was forced to alter his Bochum side. Malcolm Cacutalua was brought into the line-up for the side-lined Felix Bastians. Timo Perthel was benched, and that allowed Giliano Wijnaldum to start the game.
For Kaiserslautern and Konrad Fünfstück it was his first game in charge, and he didn't hold back. The new boss made six changes, which saw Patrick Ziegler, Tim Heubach, Alexander Ring, Ruben Jenssen, André Fromitschow and Lucas Görtler replaced by Sascha Mockenhaupt, Stipe Vucur, Markus Karl, Marcus Piossek, Marcel Gaus and Antonio-Mirko Colak.
Kaiserslautern deal double blow to Bochum
The opening was tight and tense, though the Kaiserslautern defence were doing a mightily impressive job of keeping the Bochum front-four quiet. After three consecutive one-one draws, they were keen to get forward and kill the game off. The Westfalen side had taken the lead early on in each of those games, though the tide was to be reversed midway through the first-half.
An attack from the hosts was broken down on the left and Chris Löwe, who lost the captaincy a day before the game, started the move. Eventually, some quick passing saw Kacper Przybylko play in Colak. The coach's decision to start the forward was fully justified when he rounded Cacutalua and slotted calmly past Andreas Luthe, to give his side the advantage.
One became two just five minutes later. Luthe denied Marcel Gaus' effort on goal before turning away Colak's powerful effort from close range. Unfortunately, for the hosts, he couldn't repeat the trick a third time. Piossek was on hand to head in the rebound as he rose above everyone else, as the Bochum stopper quickly rose to his feat at barked orders at his team. He was understandably unhappy.
His outrage seemingly spurred on his side and they could have had a goal back before the half-time break. Simon Terodde finally got his chance at goal but shot just past the post, after some excellent chest control set up for a volleyed effort. Anthony Losilla had the best chance of all after he broke from his marker at a free-kick. However, the Frenchman was denied spectacularly by Marius Müller as his side went in with the lead at the break.
Bochum finally find their feet, but not the equaliser
Bochum didn't start the second half with the pace and drive many would expect after conceding twice in the first period. In fact, it was the Red Devils who had the chance to go three-nil up. Some lovely play from Daniel Halfar saw his glide past two defenders before sliding through to Przybylko, though he saw his effort saved by Luthe.
The dangerous Piossek then twice went close in quick succession, with a header and an effort from range flying just past the post. Verbeek, now desperate to find a route back into the game, brought on Peniel Mlapa and Timo Perthel to try and find a way to goal. That didn't materialise and it was Kaiserslautern who had a chance immediately after the substitutions as Perthel's poor clearance feel straight to Karl, who had his shot well saved.
Bochum could have found a way back into the game midway through the half after a goalmouth scramble resulted in some desperate defending. Kaiserslautern made three brace blocks in quick succession before the ball was eventually hacked clear.
The hosts did, eventually, pull a goal back with 20 minutes left on the clock. In what was a similar story to the previous attack, Mlapa had a shot saved by Müller and then blocked by Mockenhaupt. It looked like Bochum's luck was completely out but, at the third time of asking, he hammered home from ten yards to ignite their comeback charge.
The summer signing could so easily have scored a second in the minutes following his first. Terodde played the ball into his feet before he spun the defender at his back, then rifled a shot from 18 yards onto the top of the crossbar. Mockenhaupt then turned a cross towards his own goal but his attempted clearance just fell wide of his own goal, with Bochum continuing to push for an equaliser.
Despite their efforts, they could not quite get the crucial second goal. A busy week ends badly for Bochum but Kaiserslautern will be happy that their miserable run has finally come to an end.