Bochum 3 Stuttgart 1 - Hashemian scored&nbsp; <img border="0" src="http://www.persianleague.com/images/pic.gif">

channelnewsasia - Lowly VfL Bochum on Sunday handed VfB Stuttgart a 3-1 upset defeat that wasted the second-placed team's chances of narrowing Bayern Munich's Bundesliga lead.

Stuttgaart started the game with hopes that they can capitalise on the off-form Bayern, who stumbled against Borussia Dortmund 1-0 on Saturday.

Kevin Kuranyi gave Stuttgart the lead in the 25th minute but Bochum's Iranian striker Vahid Hashemian then scored twice on 40 and 66 minutes.

Thomas Christiansen added a third for Bochum, who moved up to 13th place, four points above the relegation zone.

The loss means Stuttgart remain 11 points adrift from Bayern's 63 with five matches to play.

In Sunday's other match, Schalke 04 beat struggling Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 to go fifth.