Bochum "distance king" Pantovic reflects on another wonder-goal
VfL Bochum attacker Milos Pantovic has done it again from distance. For the second time in three fixtures, the 25-year-old Serbian came on as a late substitute and spotted a keeper off his line to turn home a magnificent finish from 40-plus meters out.
Asked how he managed to pull it off again, the former Bayern youth academy product beamed when discussing his recent tallies.
Recently promoted VfL Bochum won their fourth consecutive (and third league) match at home on Saturday. A surprise 2-1 victory over a very strong Freiburg side gives the 1848ers five league wins on the season. A team that not long ago appeared destined for the relegation race now sits pretty in 12th place on 16 points.
Asked how he managed to pull it off again, the former Bayern youth academy product beamed when discussing his recent tallies.
In a near mirror occurrence of what happened late on during a big home win over Hoffenheim two rounds back, substitute Milos Pantovic electrified the home-town crowd with a marvelous distance finish. The former Serbian youth international made it clear afterwards that he wanted to credit the crowd first and foremost.
"The fan support is unbelievable," Pantovic told the Sky microphones afterward, "how they delivered again today is worth a big compliment."
Asked about his apparent gift for spotting keepers (first Oliver Bauman and now Mark Flekken) off their line, the 25-year-old laughed at his "supposed" talent.
"It was only 45 meters out," Pantovic remarked with a self-referential bit of irony, "As soon as the ball left my foot I knew it was headed for goal. It's just instinct. Afterwards I had another chance to seal the victory [a one-vs-one vs. Flekken in the 87th], but I unfortunately wasn't successful."
With one more nod to the still cheering fans, Pantovic then promised that his in-form team would do their utmost to keep the momentum going away from home.
Bochum travel to Augsburg next week for a re-match of the insane October Pokal fixture, which Bochum also won at home.