VfL Bochum won a thriller in the east of Germany against Erzgebirge Aue, eventually winning 4-2 after both sides had scored twice inside the first quarter-of-an-hour.

Johannes Wurtz gave the visitors an early lead, but Pascal Köpke and Simon Skarlatidis quickly turned the lead around, before Thomas Eisfeld equalised for Bochum.

Jan Gyamerah scored a cracking goal with twenty minutes left, with Peniel Mlapa making it safe after Christian Tiffert was sent off for Aue.

Three changes for Aue, one for Bochum

Following their 2-0 defeat to Karlsruher SC in their last match, Aue made three changes for this one. Sebastian Hertner, Nicky Adler and Dimitrij Nazarov were replaced by Fabio Kaufmann, Cebio Soukou and Skarlatidis.

Robert Jendrusch continued in goal, with regular goalkeeper and captain Martin Männel ruled out for some time with an elbow injury.

Kevin Stöger is the latest Bochum player to fall victim to injury with a knee problem, but his absence provided the opportunity for Wurtz, who scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart last week.

Both sides lose leads in chaotic start

The game got off to the most dramatic of starts, with both sides scoring inside barely more than the first four minutes, and again inside just fifteen.

A quick Bochum break was set up with a fantastic ball from Eisfeld to Wurtz, who had already broken clear of the offside trap. With only Jendrusch to beat, he kept his cool with the finish to justify his selection inside two minutes.

Skarlatidis scores to put Aue 2-1 up. | Photo: Bundesliga
Skarlatidis scores to put Aue 2-1 up. | Photo: Bundesliga

Aue equalised when a corner played short was whipped in. The initial shot from Steve Breitkreuz was spilled by Manuel Riemann, with Köpke right in front of him. He made no mistake, firing into the top of the net.

Both sides had a chance to breathe, but not for long. Aue scored from another corner, with Bochum unable to deal with a ball into the box, and Skarlatidis made them pay as he stabbed it home.

But like Bochum the hosts couldn’t hold their lead. A pass from Wurtz found Eisfeld on the left of the box, with the midfielder placing it perfectly over Jendrusch into the far corner.

Wurtz hits the post for Bochum

After that the game calmed down, but both sides still created chances. Köpke shot well over for Aue, with Breitkreuz heading wide form a corner. Likewise Wurtz was well off target with a shot just after at the other end.

Bochum came closest to taking the lead for a second time though, when Marco Stiepermann’s corner was headed by Wurtz into the ground and off the post.

Eisfeld then sent a free-kick round the wall but into the arms of Jendrusch, whilst at the other end in the final minute of the half, Kaufmann went wide and Skarlatidis had a chance saved by Riemann.

Substitute scores a cracker to put visitors ahead

The second half started at almost the same breakneck speed as the first, just this time without the goals.

Bochum had two chances from corners. The first was played out to Nico Rieble on the edge of the box, with the left-back having an excellent strike saved by Jendrusch. The keeper then made a mess of the following corner, but was able to block Peniel Mlapa’s shot.

Wurtz then set up Rieble for another chance at goal, but this time he was just over. Whilst at the other end, Soukou set up Mario Kvesic but he was disposed by Pawel Dawidowicz.

The better chances were now going to Bochum. Mlapa could have scored just after an hour, but Breitkreuz kept him in check with the shot going out for a corner.

Eventually they got the game’s fifth goal. A Stiepermann cross was tipped away by Jendrusch. It was picked up by Tom Weilandt, who passed back to Gyamerah. After taking his time to get into a good position, the substitute unleashed his strike and scored to give his side the lead for the second time in the match.

Mlapa makes it safe after Tiffert’s ill-discipline

Aue struggled to get back into the match, whislt Bochum could have gone further ahead when Anthony Losilla volleyed over from a free-kick.

Aue’s task became much harder when Tiffert saw two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes. The first was for a foul on Stiepermann, and then a needless push on Wurtz off the ball earned him his marching orders.

And in stoppage time Bochum made sure of all three points. A cross from Weilandt found Mlapa, who might have been offside, but he scored with an easy tap to seal his side’s third win of the season.

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