BOCHUM - Bayer Leverkusen's recent good run of form came crashing to a halt after defeat at Bochum on Sunday.
Thomas Zdebel opened the scoring in the 66th minute and Christoph Dabrowski secured the victory two minutes from time.
It was Bochum's their third victory from their last six games and propels them into 13th place with a comfortable 12-point cushion over the relegation zone.
Prior to the game, Leverkusen were on a four-game unbeaten streak but capitulated to stay in fourth place, three points off Champions League qualification.
The hosts began well and could have taken the lead when Benjamin Auer shot over from the middle of the box in the 10th minute.
Auer was denied again in the 28th minute, this time by a last-ditch tackle from Karim Haggui.
Leverkusen finally gained some control over the game after about an hour and Bochum keeper Jan Lastuvka saved well from Bernd Schneider's 59th-minute shot and Sergej Barbarez's effort soon after.
Bochum finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Marc Pfertzel sent a long diagnal to Dabrowski, who headed back to Zdebel to blast home from close range.
The hosts refused to sit back and defend the one-goal lead and the strategy paid off when they doubled their lead late on.
Mimoun Azaouagh poked the ball through to Dabrowski, who had beat keeper Rene Adler with a precise, low shot.
