Bundesliga 2 has returned to action after the traditional winter break with a mid-week fixture at the SchücoArena in Bielefeld on Tuesday evening. League leaders DSC Arminia Bielefeld played host to VfL Bochum on a cold and rainy day, as the home side looked forward to continue their impressive campaign with another win against 14th ranked Bochum.

A derby, with floodlights – that’s special

Bielefeld head coach Uwe Neuhaus sounded optimistic about the challenge ahead at the pre-match press conference, but underlined the difficulties of playing a competetive match after three weeks of pre-season which included a training camp in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Talking about Bochum, he said: “People who know Bochum are aware that they have a good team and that they just had a poor start into the campaign. The break did certainly help them. They have strengthened their squad and have done a lot of preparation for the remainder of the season.”

“An opener in Bielefeld, a derby, with floodlights – that’s special,” Bochum gaffer Thomas Reis stated during his pre-match press conference. “It’s an exciting challenge, which I’m not afraid of. They deserve to be top of the table and they have played an excellent season so far. Now I’m curious to see, if they are able to handle the pressure as they are considered as one of the favourites to gain promotion.”

Voglsammer marks the highlight in an eventless first half

The match kicked off with Bochum looking well organised in their defense, while Bielefeld circulated the ball in their ranks without creating any notable attempts on target in the early moments of the game. Bochum were lucky not to concede a goal in the 18th minute, when one of their defenders deflected a cross by Bielefeld’s Jonathan Clauss just to see the ball hit the crossbar.

The home side broke the deadlock in the 27th minute in a rather eventless first half, when Marcel Hartel’s freekick found an unmarked Amos Pieper. Pieper laid off the ball to Andreas Voglsammer who put the ball into the back of the net with a right-footed shot.

Riemann receives marching orders

The second half turned into a lively affair in front of 19,685 fans as Bielefeld increased the pressure and started to create chances to increase their lead. Clauss (52′ & 63′), Voglsammer (58′ & 66′), Jóan Símun Edmundsson (65′) and Fabian Klos (79′) failed to deliver the much-sought second goal.

The second goal for Bielefeld seemed to be just a matter of time – and the odds even looked even better in the 83rd minute: Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann was booked with a yellow card for grumbling. Referee Robert Kempter booked the goalkeeper once again seconds later as Riemann mockingly turned around and clapped as a reaction to his first yellow card. Bochum had no other option than choosing midfielder Vitaly Janelt as a replacement for Riemann as they already made their three available substitutions.

The frenetic home crowd created another trademark atmosphere in the SchücoArena to push their team further ahead. Captain Fabian Klos sealed Arminia’s win with an injury time goal as his right-footed shot beat Janelt to make it 2-0.

Arminia Bielefeld remain top of the table with 37 points to their tally and they will continue their campaign with an away fixture at FC Erzgebierge Aue on Friday, January 31.

DSC Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 VfL Bochum

Goals
1-0 Andreas Voglsammer (27′), 2-0 Fabian Klos (90’+3′)

Line-up

DSC Arminia Bielefeld
Ortega – Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Hartherz – Prietl, Hartel (90’+4′ Soukou), Yabo (63′ Edmundsson) – Clauss (85′ Kunze), Klos, Voglsammer

VfL Bochum
Riemann – Gamboa (78′ Wintzheimer), Fabian, Decarli, Danilo – Tesche (62′ Weilandt), Losilla, Janelt, Lee (68′ Zoller) – Ganvoula, Blum

Bookings

Yellow Cards
1′ Brunner (Bielefeld), 22′ Yabo (Bielefeld), 31′ Fabian (Bochum), 44′ Lee (Bochum), 45′ Gamboa (Bochum), 45’+5′ Decarli, 50′ Prietl (Bielefeld), 53′ Hartherz (Bielefeld), 55′ Tesche (Bochum), 83′ Riemann (Bochum), 89′ Losilla (Bochum), 90’+6′ Edmundsson (Bielefeld)

Yellow-Red Card
84′ Riemann (Bochum)

Match Officials

Referee
Robert Kempter

Assistant Referee
Markus Schüller, Marcel Schütz

Fourth Officals
Franz Bokop

Video Assistant Referees
Lasse Koslowski, Felix-Benjamin Schwermer