REPORT

Bochum kick off 2012 with a win over Rostock

VfL Bochum wrapped up a deserved 2-1 win over Hansa Rostock on matchday 20 as new face Nika Gelashvili made a stunning debut at the rewirpowerSTADION on Sunday, 5 February 2012. Federico put his side in the lead on 19 minutes, but Borg levelled the scores in the second half. New signing Gelashvili earned his new club three points as he scored the winner shortly after he came off the bench.

In the suspension-enforced absence of Marcel Maltritz, Bergmann fielded Holmar Örn Eyjólfsson alongside Jonas Acquistapace in defence. Mimoun Azaouagh returned to action in the first game of the year, while new faces Michael Delura and Nika Gelashvili had to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench.

The hosts started confidently and created their first chance on four minutes, but Azaouagh dragged his free-kick straight at Kevin Müller in Rostock’s goal. The visitors sat back in their own half, evidently waiting for the opportunity to pounce on the counter attack. Bochum stroked the ball around well in midfield and Inui should have opened the scoring with thirteen minutes on the clock, but the agile striker failed to hit the target after fine work from Federico and Azaouagh. However, Bergmann’s men were rewarded for their patient build-up play when Azaouagh sent a free-kick around the wall for Faton Toski to pull back for Giovanni Federico, who hammered it into the net off the near post (19’).

Bochum continued to control the game and created several scoring opportunities. An Inui effort only hit the side netting, and Aydin saw his shot come back off the post, before a Rostock player cleared another attempt from Aydin off the line.

The action hotted up in the spell before half-time as Aydin wasted a clear chance when clean through, before Rostock’s Jordanov forced Luthe into a smart at the other end. Referee Patrick Ittrich awarded the visitors a penalty following a dubious handball by Acquistapace. However, Rostock’s Marek Mintal directed his shot wide from the spot and the sides went in with a one-goal advantage for Bochum.

The visitors battled their way into the game after the restart and pushed forward. Luthe had work to do to parry a cannoning attempt from Borg, and Bochum’s goalkeeper performed heroics to deny Jordanov only seconds later. At the other end, Inui almost doubled Bochum’s lead, but the Japanese directed his shot straight at Müller. Freddy Borg eventually broke the deadlock when he smashed the ball in from close range after Holmar Eyjolfsson's failed clearance (63’).

Bergmann’s charges stayed calm and once again were rewarded for their patience when Rostock failed to effectively clear a corner, giving Eyjolfsson the opportunity to fire a shot into the path of sub Nikoloz Gelashvili, who re-directed the ball into the net with a flick of his heel fourteen minutes from time.

The visitors fought back and Jonas Acquistapace and Slawo Freier both pulled out stunning reactions to deny the opponents from equalising. New signing Gelashvili came within inches of scoring his second goal in his first game for Bochum, but Müller was on hand to save the Georgian striker’s attempt. However, Bochum claimed a deserved 2-1 win in their first game of the year, adding three vital points to their tally.