By DPA
Bochum (Germany) : VfL Bochum moved to the top of the German Bundesliga football league with a 2-1 victory over SV Hamburg who saw defender Vincent Kompany sent off after an hour of the game.
Striker Stanislav Sestak and substitute Daniel Imhof with his first ball contact were on target for Bochum Friday night to inflict a first league defeat of the season for Hamburg who had won their opening two matches.
Bochum have seven points from three games to move a point above both Hamburg and Bayern Munich to enjoy top spot in the table for the first time for five years. However on-form Bayern will regain the lead if they beat visiting Hanover Saturday.
The home side took the lead just before half time after a throw-in was headed on by Cameroon striker Joel Epalle for Slovakian international Sestak to find the net from eight metres out.
Hamburg were down to 10 men for the last 30 minutes when Kompany brought down Tommy Bechmann after the Danish striker had gone past the Belgian defender near the half-way line.
Bochum added to Hamburg’s woes when Canadian midfielder Imhof struck from 20 metres in the 83rd minute to make it 2-0 with his first touch after coming off the bench.
Hamburg captain Rafael van der Vaart pulled one back from the penalty spot with four minutes remaining after David Jarolim was fouled in the area by Sestak, but the home side held on for their fourth successive victory over the northern Germans.