Waalwijk vs Bochum II

The first half at Waalwijk's training complex produced few clear chances. Bochum II, organised by head coach Heiko Butscher, held a compact shape and limited the hosts to speculative efforts, while the German side's own build-up play lacked the final pass in the final third.

The deadlock was broken after the interval. Vahidin Turudija got the decisive touch from close range to put the visitors ahead, and Luis Pick doubled the lead soon after with a composed finish, giving Bochum II a cushion they never looked like relinquishing. Waalwijk pushed for a consolation late on but could not find a way through a disciplined Bochum defence.

The opening goal, scored by Turudija early in the second half, fundamentally changed the shape of the match. Waalwijk had matched Bochum II through a tight first period, but once behind, they were forced to commit more men forward, which played into the visitors' hands. Pick's second goal, arriving shortly after the first, effectively killed the contest.

Vahidin Turudija — opened the scoring with a poacher's finish and set the tone for Bochum II's dominant second half. His movement off the shoulder of the last defender caused problems all afternoon.

Luis Pick — sealed the win with a well-taken second goal and showed sharp link-up play throughout the second 45 minutes. His energy in the final third was a constant threat.

Heiko Butscher — the Bochum II head coach deserves credit for the tactical discipline his side showed. "We stood very compactly in all phases of the game, both defensively and offensively," Butscher said after the match. "We had a very good connection between each other, allowed few chances, and created several good opportunities ourselves."

The match was a tale of two halves. While no detailed xG data is available for this friendly, the scoreline — 0-0 at half-time, 2-0 at full-time — tells the story of a Bochum II side that grew into the game. Sports Mole's pre-match model gave Waalwijk a 65.5% win probability and predicted a 0-2 result at just 1.9% likelihood, underscoring the surprise nature of the outcome. Waalwijk failed to score for the first time in their pre-season run, having drawn each of their previous five friendlies.

For Bochum II, the win was the fifth in six pre-season friendlies, with the only defeat coming against Bahlinger SC (1-0). The result provides momentum heading into the Regionalliga West opener against Borussia Dortmund II on 1 August 2026 at the Mondpalast-Arena in Herne-Wanne-Eickel.

Butscher cautioned that the squad's preparation is far from over. "Our preparation will take another two or three months until we have all the structures fully in place," he said, citing the constant movement of players between the first team and the reserves.

For Waalwijk, the result is a minor setback in a pre-season defined by draws. The Dutch second-tier side will look to sharpen their attack before the Eerste Divisie season begins.

A deserved pre-season victory for Bochum II, built on defensive solidity and clinical finishing after the break. The scoreline flattered Waalwijk's first-half performance but accurately reflected the second-half dominance of the visitors. Butscher's side look well set for their Regionalliga West campaign, even if the coach insists the real work is only just beginning.