Hard-fought point against Bochum | OneFootball

Randal Kolo Muani (22’) cancelled out Takuma Asano’s opener (14’) as Eintracht drew 1-1 with VfL Bochum on Friday evening.

Kolo Muani’s penalty midway through the first half restored parity after Asano’s close-range finish for Bochum, who were under heavy pressure for the majority of the contest at Deutsche Bank Park. Both teams had chances to claim all three points in the second half, but there was no separating the sides at full-time.

Hasebe one of four changes

Oliver Glasner made four alterations to the Eintracht team that started the 2-0 defeat at Union Berlin before the international break. With Hrvoje Smolcic and Almamy Touré both injured and Tuta serving a one-match ban, Evan Ndicka was joined in the back three by Kristijan Jakic and Makoto Hasebe. Philipp Max and Sebastian Rode were also restored in place of Daichi Kamada and Christopher Lenz.

Cool as you like from Kolo

The Eagles went close to taking an early lead through Rafael Borré, but the Colombian was denied by Manuel Riemann after Kolo Muani had flicked Max’s cross into his path. The visitors broke the deadlock against the run of play when Asano tucked home after Kevin Trapp had parried Anthony Losilla’s initial effort, but Eintracht were given a golden opportunity to equalise when Ivan Ordets tripped Kolo Muani inside the area. The Frenchman stepped up confidently and sent his spot-kick down the middle to equalise.

Glasner’s team survived a let-off when Asano lost his footing while trying to get on the end of a Kevin Stöger delivery, but Eintracht remained in control of proceedings – albeit without creating any further clear-cut opportunities before the interval. Kolo Muani almost outfoxed Ordets once more with nine minutes of the half remaining, but his cut-back towards Borré was cleared by the Bochum defence.

Bochum stand their ground

The lively Kolo Muani sent a header straight at Riemann as Eintracht started the second period on the front foot. They continued to pin the visitors back inside their own half as the half progressed, but goalscoring opportunities remained at a premium. Kolo Muani steered another Max delivery off target just after the hour mark, before Stöger almost fired Bochum back in front with a dipping free-kick that struck the crossbar.

For all Eintracht’s dominance, it was the visitors who went closest to snatching all three points in the final ten minutes. A free-kick from the left found its way to Losilla at the far post, but the Bochum captain was unable to guide his header on target. Borré sliced a shot wide late on before Kolo Muani’s cross appeared to strike Dominique Heintz on the arm inside the area, but VAR opted against awarding the Eagles another spot-kick.

SGE line-up

Trapp – Jakic, Hasebe, Ndicka – Buta, Rode (Kamada 74’), Sow, Max – Borré, Götze (Alario 79’) – Kolo Muani

Goals

0-1 Asano (14’)

1-1 Kolo Muani (22’)