Vonovia Ruhrstadion, home of VfL Bochum based in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and play their trade in the Bundesliga. Nicknamed “Die Unabsteigbaren” which is German for “The Undescendables.”
The DJK Adler Riemke & Wisewood JFC Easter weekend is well underway! It’s time for the main event! Easter Sunday and we are all as a group going to see VfL Bochum vs VfB Stuttgart in what could prove significant in both teams seasons with relegation still a possibility.
To the clubhouse we go again… These hangovers aren’t getting any easier… But still, IT’S FIEGE TIME!! The excitement is in the air here at Adler Riemke with a lot of the guests from Wisewood getting to experience their first taste of the Bundesliga!
2:30pm on the clock and we are en route to the ground! About 2 kilometres later and we are here! Food stalls and Fiege stands all set up, they really do know how to do things in Germany! €5 for a slice of pizza… It is nice though!
Time rolls on and now it’s time for the group to split. A few behind the goal next to the Stuttgart fans and me and the others in the side stand near to the home fans and I have to say these seem pretty posh! A first time in armchair seats in a ground before! Am I in the prawn sandwich brigade now? Wisewood Juniors announced on the tannoy as well! Amazing!
€43 to sit in these seats but free for me as DJK Adler Riemke covered this for us all! AMAZING! Kick off looms and the atmosphere is building up nicely! The VfL Bochum anthems echo around the ground, here is a montage:
Out come the teams ready for this relegation battle!! We’re ready!! Let those scarves wave!
Kick Off! The Bochum fans are amazing so far! Stuttgart pretty impressive too! Germany is the place! Bochum playing a lot of long balls so far whereas Stuttgart are looking to work it through the thirds.
13 minutes in and Stuttgart play down the left, it’s crossed in, it’s headed away but it comes to Hiroki Ito to strike from the edge of the box… OH! WHAT A STRIKE! It’s in off the bar! But it’s not what the start we wanted… 0-1!
27th minute now and it’s a corner for Bochum, in it comes… It’s headed back across from the far post… It’s headed at goal… The keeper saves!
35 minutes now and it’s a free kick on the right for Stuttgart in a crossing position, in it comes… It’s straight to the keeper… A poor half of football you have to say…
The Bochum fans spirits certainly have not been broken though! 1-0 to Stuttgart at the break. Big second half needed by Bochum!
Second half, 46 minutes on the clock and Bochum come forward, Kostas Stafylidis has it on the right and he cuts inside to shoot… Straight at the keeper! Better from Bochum!
4 minutes later and Stuttgart play down the right with Josha Vagnoman, he gets into the box and he’s past the defender, he shoots… Deflected… And out for a corner, in it comes… It comes for Bochum to get a shot away… Straight at the keeper.
56 minutes gone and Bochum play a ball into the box, it’s headed down, Philipp Förster is held back there… PENALTY! Bochum have the chance to level! Kevin Stöger steps up… YES!! He’s levelled it! 1-1! Come on now Bochum!
3 minutes later and Stuttgart have it down the left, it’s crossed in, the Bochum defenders leave it and Serhou Guirassy is there running in… And he’s scored… Oh dear! The Bochum defenders were fast asleep… They’ve got to come again now! 1-2!
62 minutes now and Stuttgart have momentum here! They have it down the left again, it’s crossed in, keeper goes for it… Oh no! He hasn’t got there… It’s headed in… Josha Vagnoman got there first and Stuttgart have a third! Questionable goalkeeping there… 1-3!
66th minute and Bochum play down the left, the early cross, Philip Hofmann gets his head to it… Over!
70th minute and Bochum play down the right, it’s played across low, Gerrit Holtmann is there at the far post to shoot… Good save! Corner, in it comes… Cleared by Stuttgart.
84 minutes now and Bochum come forward, it’s played in to Philipp Förster in the box on the left, he plays it across, Philip Hofmann slides in… HE’S GOT IT!! 2-3! We’ve got a grandstand finish now! COME ON BOCHUM!
89th minute and Stuttgart come forward with Silas Katompa Mvumpa who goes on a run, he’s past the defence and he’s in… SAVE! Massive save that for what would’ve been a fantastic solo goal!
We are into stoppage time now and it’s a corner for Bochum, the keeper is up, in comes the corner… The keeper collects.
Play goes on… Bochum and Stuttgart fight for the ball as it bounces out… Uh-oh! It’s turned ugly here! Stuttgart’s Konstantinos Mavropanos is booked! Someone on the Bochum bench is yellow carded as well.
Play goes on… It’s a big win for Stuttgart! A damaging defeat for Bochum and some fans aren’t happy… One is shouting abuse at the keeper as he walks off and the keeper is not happy… OH NO! What on earth is this…? He’s running over to the fan here… Awful scenes in the stands right in front of me… Just wow… I can only presume the fan was unhappy with the third goal perhaps?
FT: VfL Bochum 2-3 VfB Stuttgart
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 10/10 – Amazing! Just amazing! Both sets of fans were sensational in the end!
- The Ground: 9/10 – Very good ground! For me, I liked how close to the pitch you are and the standing terraces behind the goal is what makes the atmosphere in here!
- Expense: 10/10 – Without question!
- Overall Experience: 9.5/10 – Another amazing day at the football in Germany but only the result was what we were missing today.
38.5/40