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Düsseldorf (AP) - second division leader VfL Bochum has the return to the Bundesliga firmly in their sights.
On Monday, the efficient team of coach Thomas Reis defeated first division relegated Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-0 (2-0).
With this, the Revierclub regained the top of the table from Hamburger SV at the end of the 26th match day.
After goals from Simon Zoller (12th minute), Gerrit Holtmann (35th) and substitute Soma Novothny (87th), VfL are eight game days before the end of the season with 51 points ahead of HSV (49) and SpVgg Greuther Fürth ( 47).
For Fortuna, who had already lost the first leg with 0: 5, any dreams of promotion should have been finally settled.
The team of trainer Uwe Rösler, who now hardly has any chance of a contract extension, is sixth already seven points behind the relegation rank three.
For a long time, Fortuna was the determining factor on Monday.
A poor exploitation of chances and individual defensive failures led to the second home defeat this season.
Striker Kenan Karaman, who had to leave for the Turkish national team, was sorely absent.
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The guests responded dryly and uncompromisingly to a number of major chances for the Düsseldorf team.
Before the surprising lead, Holtmann overran full-back Matthias Zimmermann and served goal scorer Zoller, who scored his twelfth goal of the season.
At 0: 2, Fortuna keeper Florian Kastenmeier acted much too hesitantly.
Even after the break, the Düsseldorf usury continued.
Fortuna also sometimes miserably missed the best opportunities.
Unlike VfL, which managed to respond to the 2-0 draw on the previous day against HSV: Shortly before the end of the game, Novothny used the next gross Kastenmeier mistake to make the final decision.
On Holy Saturday, the Bochum team will continue with the next top game.
Then fourth in the table Holstein Kiel (46), who still has two more games to play, comes to VfL on Castroper Straße.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210322-99-928757 / 2
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Second division table
26th matchday
DFL to the game