Already demoted VfL Bochum beats St. Pauli in their last Bundesliga game

VfL Bochum won its last Bundesliga match for the time being 2-0 against FC St. Pauli. Myron Boadu won a tough game at Millerntor, but the opposing team still celebrated.

FC St. Pauli had already virtually secured their place in the league with a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt the previous week , while VfL had been relegated since their 4-1 defeat to 1. FSV Mainz 05. So, there was little at stake in terms of sport, but neither side was experimenting on the final matchday.

Alexander Blessin brought on the home side’s two recently suspended players, Vasilj and van der Heyden, for Voll and Ritzka (both on the bench), while Dieter Hecking fielded Medic and Pannewig on the other side instead of Ordets and Krauß, who were both injured.

Boadu with fine dribbling

In a game with many inaccuracies and lacking in intensity, it was a brilliant solo effort from Boadu that put the relegated side in the lead. The Dutchman received a deflected pass from Bero on the left side of the penalty area, fought his way past Saliakas, Nemeth, and Wahl in a tight space, and slotted the ball past Vasilj into the net (10′).

VfL initially stayed close after the goal, closing the gap through Pannewig (17th), among others, but then had some luck. First, Guilavogui’s unmarked header from eight meters was saved by Horn (20th), then Afolayan failed to capitalize on a gift from the Bochum goalkeeper. Horn played a clearance into the feet of St. Pauli’s attacker, who shot over the bar (22nd).

Van der Heyden must go down

A short time later, Horn had to follow up with Afolayan (29th minute), and shortly afterward, St. Pauli suffered a setback: central defender van der Heyden went down in a challenge with Passlack and took the Bochum player’s foot in the face. The Belgian was bleeding and had to be replaced by Ritzka (33rd minute). Otherwise, there was little action in the game. St. Pauli tried a bit harder, but repeatedly failed due to a lack of precision and were unable to challenge Horn. Bochum took the lead into the break.

Blessin reacted and brought on Weißhaupt for Afolayan. But it didn’t have much impact. St. Pauli had a bit more of the game and applied some pressure, but the only threat came from substitute Weißhaupt, who hit the outside of the post from a tight angle (58′).

Boadu scores a brace

Otherwise, Bochum stood firm – and secured the victory with one of their rare attacks. Passlack ran onto a long ball on the right and set up Boadu in the penalty area. The Dutchman confidently finished off the counterattack, leaving Vasilj no chance and scoring twice (66′), securing his first Bundesliga win at the 19th attempt.

Not much else happened. St. Pauli lacked ideas, Bochum had little trouble defending their 2-0 lead, and so the game petered out between a host of substitutions – including Losilla’s 364th and final appearance for VfL, and the 17-year-old Koscierski’s Bundesliga debut. Only Bero came close to scoring Bochum’s third goal (88′).

So the score remained 2-0 for VfL Bochum, who, despite their sixth win of the season, finished last and will begin the new season in the 2. Bundesliga. On the other side, despite the defeat, they could officially celebrate staying in the league. St. Pauli finished the season in 14th place.