Bochum’s Takuma Asano celebrates with fans after securing German Bundesliga survival with a win over Bayer Leverkusen in Bochum, Germany, on May 27, 2023. (Kyodo)
Japan forward Takuma Asano scored one and set up another as Bochum’s 3-0 home win over 10-man Bayer Leverkusen secured survival in the German Bundesliga Saturday.
Leverkusen went a man down in the eighth minute before Philipp Forster volleyed home the 19th-minute opener from a superb Asano cross at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
Asano volleyed home a 34th-minute corner with his season’s third goal and Kevin Stoger put the tie to bed four minutes from time. Bochum finished 14th.
Wataru Endo set up the equalizer to give Stuttgart a 1-1 home draw with Hoffenheim, but the point was not enough to avoid a place in the Bundesliga’s promotion-relegation playoff. Endo scored and had an assist in last Sunday’s crucial 4-1 win at Mainz.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s brace took his Scottish Premiership-leading tally to 27 goals before coming off injured, as champions Celtic thumped Aberdeen 5-0 at home.
Fellow Japan forward Ayase Ueda lashed his season’s 22nd goal in the Belgian top flight in Cercle Brugge’s 4-0 away win to Standard Liege.
Bochum’s Takuma Asano (L) is pictured in action during a German Bundesliga football game against Bayer Leverkusen on May 27, 2023, in Bochum, Germany. (Kyodo)