Away wins
April 11, 2010Europa League semi-finalists Hamburg snatched a late 2-1 victory at Bochum to end a four-game losing streak in the German Bundesliga.
The win takes Hamburg to 48 points, just three behind fifth placed Werder Bremen and a place in next season's Europa League. Hamburg could also guarantee themselves a spot in the tournament next year if they win it this time around. They play London club Fulham in the semi-finals on April 22 and 29.
Hamburg, without striker Paolo Guerrero who began a five-match suspension for throwing a plastic bottle at a fan after last week's goalless draw with Hanover, went ahead in the 18th minute when midfielder Robert Tesche headed in from a corner for his first league goal of the season.
Bochum equalized just after the half hour mark, when Joel Epalle headed into the path of Slovenian international forward Zlatko Dedic, who volleyed in from 20 meters.
The visitors sealed the victory in the 88th minute when Bochum substitute Andreas Johansson turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Bochum, who extended their winless run to eight league games, are 15th with 28 points, one point and one place above Hanover who are in the relegation playoff spot.
Nuremberg stumble
In Sunday's other match Wolfsburg, eighth with 46 points from 30 games, secured a crucial win against relegation-threatened Nuremberg. The visitors went ahead in the 66th minute when Zvjezdan Misimovic found Edin Dzeko with a diagonal pass and the Bosnian scored from 15 meters. Dzeko became the Bundesliga's top scorer with 19 goals.
Twelve minutes later, Makoto Hasebe was given too much space on the right and delivered a pinpoint pass for Grafite to head in at the far post for his 10th goal of the season.
nrt/Reuters/dpa
Editor: Mark Hallam