FIRST TEAM

05/20/2023

Frenetic TSG win against Union Berlin

Salvation in stoppage time and survival more or less in the bag: TSG ran out 4-2 (2-1) winners against 1. FC Union Berlin. The triumph means TSG are effectively safe. With one matchday to go, they have at least a three-point lead over the relegation-play-off place and a goal difference that is 26 goals superior to VfL Bochum's. Ihlas Bebou, Andrej Kramarić (2) and Munas Dabbur scored the goals for Hoffenheim.

The line-up

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made two changes to the starting XI that lost 2-1 away to VfL Wolfsburg. Dennis Geiger and Finn Ole Becker started in place of Sebastian Rudy and Munas Dabbur.

The scenario

TSG Hoffenheim went into the matchday in 14th position with 32 points. Fourth-placed Union Berlin, meanwhile, could take a big step towards the Champions League with a victory.

Number of the game: 100

Andrej Kramarić's brace took his goal tally in the Bundesliga to 100. The Croat could have hardly picked a better moment to score twice. The goals mean that survival has practically been secured.

Moment of the match

The goal for 3-1: Munas Dabbur sensationally chased down a second ball, turned past an opponent on a sixpence by the byline and squared the ball perfectly into the path of Andrej Kramarić, who was left with a simple tap-in from one metre out (90). The decisive moment of an intense match and a big step towards staying in the division.

Salvation in stoppage time

Union Berlin pulling a goal back through Aissa Laidouni in the fifth minute of added time gave TSG a late scare, but Munas Dabbur popped up with a moment of salvation for all those of a Hoffenheim persuasion. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Andrej Kramarić headed the ball into the Israeli's path. The striker stayed cool in front of goal and fired into the corner. The game finished directly afterwards and the celebrations knew no bounds.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim will close out the season with a trip away to VfB Stuttgart next Saturday (15:30 CET).

Stats

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Brooks, Akpoguma (Bičakčić, 70) – Becker, Geiger (Rudy, 60), Angeliño – Prömel, Kramarić – Baumgartner (Dabbur, 65), Bebou

Union Berlin: Rönnow – Doekhi, Jaeckel (Jordan, 80), Leite (Baumgartl, 46) – Trimmel (Juranovic, 69), Khedira, Roussillon – Thorsby (Laidouni, 46), Haberer (Leweling, 69) – Becker, Behrens

Goals: 1-0 Bebou (22), 2-0 Kramarić (penalty awarded for a foul, 36), 2-1 Doekhi (45+4), 3-1 Kramarić (90), 3-2 Laidouni (90+5), 4-2 Dabbur (90+9)

Match highlights

22. Min.

Bebou scores the opener

Bebou intercepts an underhit backpass, rounds Rönnow and then pulls the trigger. Doekhi gets to it on the line but cannot prevent the shot from ending up in the net.

36. Min.

Kramarić doubles the lead

Kramarić assumes responsibility and scores. The Croat picks out the bottom left corner, Rönnow gets down but cannot keep it out. The spot-kick was awarded by the VAR for a foul on Baumgartner by Khedira.

45 + 4. Min.

Union reduce deficit

A corner leads to a goal back: Doekhi rises the highest and meets Trimmel's cross. The header crosses the line via the underside of the crossbar.

54. Min.

Union's Becker spurns chance to level

Suddenly a big opportunity to level: a cross slides through to the back post. Becker shoots from an unmarked position but fires over. Deep breath! Baumann would have probably been powerless from that distance.

90. Min.