Bochum beat Union 4-3 in relegation dogfight, Cologne can breathe
Bochum won 4-3 in a classic at Bundesliga relegation rivals Union Berlin on Sunday to move away from the drop zone and give Cologne a glimmer of hope of staying up.
Maximilian Wittek scored twice for the visitors with contrasting strikes inside the first 31 minutes and then former Union defender Keven Schlotterbeck, via a deflection, made it 3-0 before half-time.
The second period was completely different however and Union's famous fans never stopped encouraging their team, who first netted through Yorbe Vertessen's shot from distance before fellow half-time substitute Chris Bedia kept his cool for Union's second.
But the visitors then went 4-2 up through Philipp Hofmann's unmarked header, only for Benedict Hollerbach to cut the deficit again on 74 minutes. Bochum, though, dug deep to stop the onslaught and hung on.
Bochum, who sacked Thomas Letsch last month, had gone eight games without a win but former under-19 coach Heiko Butscher has now masterminded two victories in a row.
The Blues are 14th and three points above 15th-placed Union, who lie six points above Cologne in the automatic relegation places with two matchdays left.
Cologne and Union have similar goal differences and meet by the Rhine next Saturday. Third-bottom Mainz, in the relegation play-off spot despite a resurgence, sit two points behind Union but will go above them with a win at Heidenheim later on Sunday.
Union started the season in the Champions League having finished fourth last term but have endured a roller-coaster campaign, which could end with a return to the second tier after five seasons.
Club president Dirk Zingler gave Union coach Nenad Bjelica his backing before kick-off amid reports they would soon part ways.
