Japan forward Takuma Asano propelled Bochum to their first win of the season in the German Bundesliga on Friday after scoring both their goals in a 2-1 win away to Darmstadt.
Asano hit his second brace of the season to take his season's tally to four goals, helping Bochum secure their first win 10 games into the new campaign.
"I'm relieved but it doesn't lead to any sense of security," said Asano, who will turn 29 next Friday. "Tough matches come thick and fast so I want to prepare well."
The pacey forward scored an instinctive opener in the 25th minute at Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor, controlling a deflected pass with his left foot just before it reached Darmstadt keeper Marcel Schuhen and immediately guiding the ball in the air with his right.
Fabian Nurnberger leveled for the home side with a header two minutes to the break, but Asano drilled a winner low into the far left corner in the 54th minute before Darmstadt had Fabian Holland sent off with 20 minutes to go.
"I could create the gap with my first touch to finish off with a shot," Asano said on his first goal. "I could hit it (the second) as I pictured."
Bochum were on eight points and sat 13th ahead of the other weekend fixtures, with five draws and four defeats prior to Friday.
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