Bochum grasp victory over Union Berlin in seven-goal spectacle

One could have be forgiven for thinking this was a game between teams at opposite ends of the Bundesliga table. The pressure lay heavy on the hosts in Köpenick, as Bochum forged a 16th minute lead through Maximilian Wittek. Some smart play from Kevin Stöger slipped in Broschinski to square for the German winger assuming the strikers role in the penalty box.

On the stroke of the half hour, Bochum and Wittek struck again. Osterhage supplied the killer pass and as Doekhi went to ground early, the 28-year-old bagged his brace. The scoreline displayed 3-0 just six minutes later as Kevin Schlotterbeck chipped in on the act. This time it was Felix Passlack who found the centre-half who fired home from 11 metres. Bochum flying in a sweltering, sunny Berlin.

However, Union Berlin weren't done and Nenad Bjelica acted swiftly with a triple substitution with Aaronson, Bedia, and Vertessen introduced. The alterations made instant impacts as Vertessen thrashed to the net from range. With the subsequent attack Schäfer fed Bedia who held his nerve to drill past a visibly livid Manuel Riemann in the Bochum goal.

With the Eisern faithful finding their voice as they searched for parity, Bochum responded. A heroic Gosens' block fell to Passlack who crossed centrally for Hofmann in acres of space to head home. Sighs of relief in the gästeblock fizzled out quickly however. In the 74th minute, Gosens put Aaronson into space. The American's deft pass served up a close range finish for Hollerbach to make it 4-3. Despite five additional minutes, and half chances a-plenty, Bochum withstood the nervy conclusion in a spectacular game.