Sunday, March 8, 2009

no victory in Düsseldorf

Despite having significantly greater scoring chances, Werkself was unable to overcome VfL Bochum and played to a 1-1 draw in Düsseldorf. The squandered points leave Bayer 04 seventh in the Bundesliga table and ripe with frustration after the great victory over Bayern in the Pokal. After the visitors lost striker Diego Klimowicz to a injury fourteen minutes after the start, Michal Kadlec's cross into the box was headed on by Stefan Kießling but Bochum 'keeper Daniel Fernandes made a quality save. Searching to break the deadlock, Marcel Koller starting eleven shocked the big crowd in Düsseldorf grabbing the lead past the half hour mark as Christian Fuchs, who came over from SV Mattersburg last summer, sent a free-kick into the box that Christoph Dabrowski headed in. Six minutes later Stefan Kießling narrowly missed heading Tranquillo Barnetta cross in and then with three minutes remaining Lukas Sinkiewicz's effort from just outside the six yard box is saved again by Bochum 'keeper. A late substitution prior to the break was necessary as Toni Kroos came in for Arturo Vidal. After the break, Marcel Koller's side could smell victory looming and Joël Epalle and Eintracht Frankfurt product Mimoun Azaouagh forced the most out of René Adler around the hour mark. The Bochumer were unlucky six minutes past the hour as Mergim Mavraj was called for a handball in the area and with the spot pointed to, Patrick Helmes crisply sent the ball in. Playing a man down with Mavraj's explusion Werkself swarmed for the winner but Bochum 'keeper Fernandes continued to deny the hosts and the match ended as a 1-1 draw.

Photo Source: Kicker (© picture-alliance)