Super-sub Schipplock saves Hoffenheim

There is a great deal of belief in this Hoffenheim side and the fact Markus Gisdol put his trust in exactly the same eleven that beat 1. FC Nürnberg last week, showed how confident they were of overcoming a struggling Bremen.

With barely 30 seconds gone, Hoffenheim were dealt a bitter blow as Bremen were given a controversial penalty. David Abraham did foul Aaron Hunt but Robert Hartmann gave a penalty despite the foul appearing to be outside of the area. Hunt stepped up to wrong foot Koen Casteels and given Bremen the earliest possible lead.

Bremen burst out of the blocks

Markus Gisdol's men showed their strength of character in the face of their early setback with solid possession, strong tackling and determined attacking play. Abraham nearly made amends for his foul earlier with an attacking header but it clipped the top of the bar with goalkeeper Sebastian Mielitz well placed. Bremen's attacking threat had been quelled but never entirely removed and, after some strong running on the wing from Nils Petersen, Belgian international Kevin de Bruyne finished sharply into the bottom corner.

2-0 and less than half an hour played. This was not the scenario that Gisdol or Hoffenheim will have had in mind. They refused to let up though and Roberto Firmino so nearly got a goal back for the away side but his solo effort was well saved by Mielitz. Firmino continued to pester the Bremen defence but just couldn't find another clear cut chance to pepper the home side's goal. Half time arrived to the sound of a rousing home support with TSG knowing they needed something special in the second half to come away with at least a point.

No reward for positivity

Gisdol's men started the second half with their foot on the gas as they pursued a goal that would get them back into the game. Once again it was positive, attacking play that pushed the momentum in their favour but they lacked a clear chance. Bremen's defence flicked the ball off the on-rushing head of Roberto Firmino who otherwise would have surely scored.

The hour mark ticked over and Hoffenheim saw a chance come and go as Tobias Weis fired just wide of Mielitz's right-hand post on a swift counter attack. There was plenty to be positive about for Hoffenheim but being two goals down made those things almost irrelevant. It is the business end of the season and now, more than ever, it's the results that count.

Super Sven

With TSG pushing forward, it was only inevitable that Bremen might have one or two more chances and Aaron Hunt drilled a low shot just wide of Casteel's far post. Naturally, being the side pushing forward, chances were bound to fall for Hoffenheim as well. Sven Schipplock found space in the centre of the box and curled an effort into the top of the goal to put Hoffenheim one goal behind with four minutes left.

In injury time, Hoffenheim threw everything forward. Sejad Salihovic launched a great ball into the box and Kevin Volland's header fell at the feet of Schipplock who poked home his second of the game to equalise in a dramatic finish for the away side. After such a character-building comeback, Hoffenheim can take both a point and a great deal of momentum from this result. The home game against Hamburger SV at 15.30 CET on Saturday, May 11th is the next opportunity for Gisdol's men to pick up points.

Jonathan Harding

SV Werder Bremen: Mielitz – Fritz (75' Gebre Selassie), Prödl, Sokratis, Ignjovski (82' Schmitz) – Bargfrede, Kroos (85' Lukimya) – Yildrim, Hunt, de Bruyne - Petersen

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim:Casteels – Beck, Abraham, Vestergaard, Thesker – Weis (76' de Camargo), Rudy (66' Schipplock) – Volland, Salihovic, Johnson (46' Ludwig) – Firmino

Goals: 1-0 Hunt (2' pen.), 2-0 de Bruyne (24'), 2-1 Schipplock (86'), 2-2 Schipplock (90+1)

Yellow cards: Fritz, Kroos, Bargfrede – Abraham, Vestergaard, Schipplock
Attendance: 41,000
Referee:Robert Hartmann

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