Die Eisernen are unbeaten on home soil in the Bundesliga this term, and they were controversially denied the opportunity to race into an early lead in their latest assignment on their own turf.
Referee Tobias Stieler waved away appeals for an Union spot-kick after Christopher Antwi-Adjei’s clash with Rani Khedira.
Bochum had failed to win any of their previous league meetings against the current top-six, and rather unsurprisingly the visitors were desperately struggling to trouble Frederik Ronnow in the Union goal in the opening half-hour.
With it appearing Urs Fischer’s men would be unrewarded for their attacking endeavours before half-time, Josip Juranovic had other ideas, as the January acquisition from Celtic struck a sensational free-kick past Manuel Riemann in stoppage time.
Bochum boss Thomas Letsch had work to do during the interval, and the visitors began the second half in a much-improved style, and were duly compensated just 10 minutes later as Kevin Stoger confidently converted from the penalty spot following Aissa Laidouni’s clumsily foul on Ivan Ordets.
Things got even worse for Fischer’s men six minutes later as defender Paul Jaeckel was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Union pressed forward and thought they had restored their lead in the 64th minute. However, the hosts' celebrations were to be short-lived as VAR intervened to allow Bochum a much-needed reprieve after discovering Kevin Behrens had strayed marginally offside in the build-up.
The Union forward spurned another huge chance in the latter stages, heading wide with the goal at his mercy to sum up a frustrating afternoon for the capital outfit.
Union's inability to find a winning goal leaving them seven points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Bochum's failure to take advantage of playing the majority of the second half with a man advantage, despite testing Ronnow on a couple of occasions, leaves them just three points clear of the drop zone with six rounds to go.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin)
