Augsburg cruise to vital 0-2 win in Bochum
First half goals from Hahn and a Gregoritsch penalty bagged three points for Augsburg relieving any fears of a potential relegation battle for the time being.
The hosts started the better of the two in the opening ten minutes with encouraging support from the Bochum faithful in the stands. Somewhat against the run of play it was Augsburg who took an early lead in the 15th minute, and it was served on a silver plate by the unfortunate Leitsch. A poorly weighted back pass allowed Hahn to nip in and make it 0-1 by beating Riemann to the ball with a deft lob much to the delight of manager Weinzierl.
Despite Bochum dominating possession, Augsburg won a penalty on 40 minutes when Danilo Soares tangled with Caliguiri in the box. Gregoritsch stepped up to the spot and slotted it into the bottom left corner for 0-2 with Reimann left standing – a deafening silence filled the stands as halftime sounded.
Bochum made a triple substitution just before the hour mark – Locadia, Blum, and fan favourite Polter replaced Osterhage, Holtmann, Zoller in a bid to alter the outcome of the match. Augsburg were visibly the happier of the teams, but they too introduced Maier, Pedersen and Niederlechner. The Bavarians were more than content to hold what they had given their lead approaching 70 minutes and having prevented Bochum getting a single shot on target.
Reis’ Bochum threw everything they had at their visitors for the remaining twenty minutes, but they did little to trouble Gikiewicz in goal. Augsburg have earned a 7-point cushion between themselves and 16th placed Stuttgart, or at least temporarily, ahead of the Swabian side’s meeting with Hertha at 5.30p.m. this afternoon.
