Mission accomplished against Koblenz

MATCH REPORT

1899 Hoffenheim eventually ran out comfortable victors over second division side Koblenz. Four second half goals were the difference between the two sides as Hoffenheim progressed to the final eight of the DFB cup in front of a home crowd at the Rhein-Neckar Arena on Wednesday evening.

The home side piled on the pressure from the opening minutes, dominating possession and controlling the pace of the game. Yet Hoffenheim struggled to create an opening as the Koblenz defence was up to the challenge. On 32 minutes Sejad Salihovic's free kick tested Yelldell forcing the keeper to parry the ball over his own cross bar.

Still Ralf Ragnick's team failed to find the opening goal and the frustration became increasingly apparent as Carlos Eduardo's audacious attempt from long range on 36 minutes fell harmlessly wide of Yelldell's left post. Despite a commanding first forty five minutes the home side came in at half time without anything to show for their relentless attacking football.

However, Hoffenheim's frustration didn't last long as the breakthrough finally came just five minutes after the restart through another Salihovic free kick. This time the Captain's strike wasn't picked up by any player in the box and fizzed past the keeper to relieve some of the pressure building on the home team. With the lead secure Hoffenheim became more expansive and relaxed in their attacking football as they increased the pressure on the struggling second division side.

Vedad Ibisevic extended the lead on 67 minutes, while Maicosuel made it three just four minutes later as he found himself one on one with the keeper following Ibisevic's pin point pass. If the game wasn't already beyond Koblenz, Compper made sure with a goal at the death. His header found the back of the net from Salihovic's corner as Hoffenheim cruise to the quarter finals in February.

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Marvin Compper:
Usually you've got to have a bit of patience in the cup when you come up against such a defensive side. We were more expansive in the second half and that meant that we were more dangerous. I'm hoping for a home game in the next round. In the cup anything is possible.

Vedad Ibisevic:
It was difficult to get into the game, but by the end we were dominant. I'm really happy with the result because the cup is such an interesting competition. First and foremost we're focusing on the league and then we'll think about the cup again in the New Year.

David Yelldell:
I think we let through 1 or 2 goals unnecessarily, but in the end we deserved to lose.

Manuel Hartmann:
Hoffeneheim are a quality side. If they struggle to score, then it gets hard for them. After the goal we didn't really create any chances. We're now fully focused on the league, because that's the most important thing.

Ralf Rangnick:
It was important that we were a bit more attacking in the second half. The opening goal was really just the start. The result was fairly clear, despite the first half performance and in the end we deserved the victory. The only downer from today was the injury to Obasi, who's probably going to miss the game against Freiburg. We've got to get ourselves together now ahead of Freiburg game.

Uwe Rapolder:
Hoffenheim were the deserved winners. Until the first goal it was difficult to tell how it was going to end. We didn't really have any chances on goal and it was optimistic to think that we could come here and get something from the game. The second goal was a real knock and then Hoffenheim began to play more expansively. In the end Hoffenheim were simply too strong for us and we didn't have the quality to trouble them. Now we're just concentrating on the league.

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