Stark's injury-time strike salvages point for Bremen in Bochum
Separated by Bremen’s superior goal difference prior to kick-off, the game would finish 1-1 as a stunning strike from Patrick Osterhage was cancelled out by Niklas Stark in injury time.
There was no quarter given by either Bochum or Bremen in the opening half of action this afternoon. While chances were few and far between, the game was not shy on meaty challenges. No less than five players landed themselves in arbiter Tobias Stieler’s book.
Aside from Njinmah’s appeal for a penalty in the 6th minute, which was subsequently waved away, Bremen failed to muster up a single effort to test Manuel Riemann. While Bero and Antwi-Adjej forced Zetterer into a couple of routine saves, the hosts seemed to be missing the imperative spark and speed of Takuma Asano. The Japanese sensation absent through international duty at the Asian Cup.
The hosts made the sharper start after the interval largely thanks to their more aggressive pressing. There was yet another penalty appeal involving Njinmah and Osterhage, however the Bochum did get the ball first and the Bremen attacker was in an offside position to boot. As the game started to open up, Bochum forged a 1-0 lead in spectacular fashion – Stoger fed Osterhage who, with the encouragement of the home crowd, whipped the ball into the top right corner from 25-yards.
As Ole Werner introduced substitutes Kownacki and Schmid to salvage something, it was Bittencourt and Weiser who tested Riemann in quick succession. Zetterer was similarly required to intervene as he magnificently tipped Philipp Forster’s deflected strike over the bar. Just as is looked like the hosts would secure three vital points, Bremen pulled level in injury time. Niklas Stark’s desperate effort thundered off Osterhage and pierced the Bochum net with the aid of the crossbar. The points shared after a dramatic battle.