11. Matchday (14.10.2011, 18:30 Uhr)

0 : 2

VfL Bochum 1848

  11. Matchday   2. Bundesliga

Eintracht Frankfurt

• Match report
• Formation
• Statistic
• Table
• Tickets
• Live-Ticker
• Pictures

Away Streak Continues: 2-0 Win Against Bochum!

The Eagles added yet another win to their impressive away record beating VfL Bochum at the rewirpowerStadion 2-0. Bochum's Acquistapace scored an own goal (16') and Köhler added the second (36'). That leaves Eintracht on the top of the league for one night at least.

The match started 30 minutes later than scheduled due to a bomb scare at Bochum central station. 20,132 including around 2,000 vocal Eintracht away fans made their way to the classic football ground which was built nearly exactly 100 years ago. Manager Armin Veh made one change to the starting line-up replacing Theofanis Gekas (thigh injury) with Erwin 'Jimmy' Hoffer sticking to the recent successful tactics of a 4-4-2 system.

The first chance fell to the hosts when Chong Tese just missed a decent cross from the right (2'). But the Eagles seemed unimpressed and started taking control with a dominant midfield around playmaker and skipper Pirmin Schwegler. After 16 minutes Benny Köhler was through on the left and his sharp cross would have found Jimmy Hoffer if it wasn't for Bochum's Acquistapace who was at the end of it scoring an own goal.

Eintracht continued to show confidence and dominance, decent passing and attacking forces such as Meier, Hoffer, Idrissou and Köhler kept the Bochum defence busy throughout. Mo Idrissou had a go after 26 minutes and VfL goalkeeper Luthe was not able to control the shot, a defender just made a clearance otherwise Hoffer would have converted from close range.

Hoffer then assisted the second goal with a neat high cross which was headed in by Köhler (36'). At 172 cm height Köhler impressively headed in 6 of his 16 league goals for Eintracht already. Bochum did not give up and had a couple of chances when Inui and Freier tried their luck, the fírst shot was close but wide, the latter one saved by Eagles keeper Oka Nikolov. Hoffer then missed the target for Eintracht. It was a well deserved two goal lead at half time.

After the break Veh replaced defender Bamba Anderson who felt unwell and dizzy with Stefan Bell - his debut for Eintracht after he had already made his first match for Germany's Under-21 during the week against San Marino.

VfL did not give up the match in the second half and repeatedly tried to get a goal back. Both Inui and Tese came close to scoring a few times up until the 65th minute but either Nikolov saved or the shots went wide. On the other side Köhler and Djakpa had promising chances to score the third for the Eagles. Veh brought on defensive midfielder Matthias Lehmann for Hoffer (65') in order for Eintracht to cope better with Bochum's continuous attacks.

In the last 10 minutes of the match both teams created further chances: Bell with a header (76') and Meier twice (80', 90') for Eintracht as well as Ginczek (71') and Frederico (75') for Bochum did not change the 2-0 score line after all.

Eintracht's fourth win in a row meant they stay unbeaten so far this season and moved up to the top of the league, at least until Fürth and Düsseldorf have played their games this matchday. The fans were truly happy and celebrated the team after the final whistle. Coming up next is the home match against MSV Duisburg next Sunday at 13.30h CET, followed by the second round cup game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern - also at home - on Wednesday the 26th at 20.30h CET. Exciting times for team, club and fans.

(Holger Ruhl)