Aussies Abroad: Kruse bags a double in Bochum’s win

Caltex Socceroos winger Robbie Kruse has enjoyed a day to remember in the 2.Bundesliga, scoring a brace in Bochum’s win over Erzgebirge overnight.

Kruse scored either side of an equaliser by the visitors as Bochum held on for a 2-1 win at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.

The 29-year-old has now scored seven goals for the campaign in Germany’s second tier to help his side rise to sixth on the ladder.

It took just three minutes for Kruse to open the scoring, springing the offside trap to be clear through on goal before beating the keeper at his near post with a left-footed strike.

After Erzgebirge drew level on 16 minutes, the speedy Aussie would have the final say 13 minutes from time.

A cross from the left made its way to Kruse at the far post and he did the rest, finishing clinically with a low strike across the keeper which went in at the far post.

Bochum is next in action at Union Berlin next weekend.

Elsewhere, Brandon Borrello – who suffered a serious knee injury last week, watched from the stands as his Kaiserslautern were relegated after losing 3-2 at Arminia Bielefeld.  

In Belgium, Caltex Socceroos keeper Danny Vukovic had a huge game as Genk drew 1-1 with league-leaders Club Brugge.

Both goals came in the second half as Brugge took the lead just after the hour mark through Brazilian Wesley, before Leandro Tossard hit back just four minutes later for Genk.

Vukovic had to be at his best to preserve a point for Genk, making a total of eight saves in a superb display from the Aussie gloveman.

The hard-earned draw comes just a week after Genk beat last season’s champions Anderlecht and has them fifth on the ladder in Belgium.

And young defender Aleksandar Susnjar was an unused substitute as his Mlada Boleslav drew 0-0 with Vysocina Jihlava in the Czech Republic.

Danny Vukovic
Danny Vukovic