FIRST TEAM

09/16/2023

Dream strikes seal TSG win in Cologne

Fast start, dream goals and battle of nerves: TSG Hoffenheim won 3-1 (2-0) away to 1. FC Köln. Andrej Kramarić opened the scoring for TSG after only 48 seconds, with Florian Grillitsch then doubling the lead to 2-0 with a dream goal from the halfway line after 28 minutes. Maximilian Beier produced the next stunning strike at the beginning of the second half (52), but Köln came back into it with a goal from Davie Selke (61). Hoffenheim subsequently endured a nervy finish but managed to see the win over the line.

Line-up

Pellegrino Matarazzo made three changes to the starting XI compared to the 3-1 victory against VfL Wolfsburg. Ozan Kabak replaced Attila Szalai in defence, with Pavel Kadeřábek and Robert Skov lining up on the flanks, while Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bülter initially dropped to the bench.

The scenario

TSG Hoffenheim had won two of their first three matches of the season and were in the upper third of the table with six points. Köln, meanwhile, had picked up one point in the same time frame.

Moment of the match

The goal for 2-0. Maximilian Beier chased a misplaced backpass from Köln in the 28th minute and put pressure on goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe, whose uncontrolled clearance landed at the feet of Florian Grillitsch. The Austrian fired the ball into the empty net from the halfway line and made it 2-0 to TSG.

Number of the game: 48

Andrej Kramarić made the score 1-0 to TSG Hoffenheim after only 48 seconds. It is Hoffenheim's earliest Bundesliga goal since November 2018, when Kerem Demirbay netted after 44 seconds at Hertha BSC.

Landmark appearance

Oliver Baumann achieved another landmark in the match against 1. FC Köln, making his 300th Bundesliga appearance in a TSG shirt.

Outlook

TSG are on the road once again next Saturday. The match against 1. FC Union Berlin at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei will kick off at 15:30 CET.

Stats

Line-ups:

1. FC Köln: Schwäbe – Schmitz (Alidou, 61), Hübers, Chabot, Pacarada (Heintz, 76) – Ljubicic – Carstensen, Huseinbasic (Waldschmidt, 66), Kainz (Adamyan, 76), Maina (Tigges, 76) – Selke

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Brooks, Vogt (Nsoki, 67) – Kadeřábek, Grillitsch (Becker, 79), Skov (Bülter, 79) – Kramarić, Prömel (Stach, 58) – Beier, Weghorst (Berisha, 58)

Goals: 0-1 Kramarić (1), 0-2 Grillitsch (28), 0-3 Beier (52), 1-3 Selke (61)

Red card: Carstensen (90+1)

Match highlights

1. Min.

Kramarić with a dream start

Köln fail to clear the ball following a cross from Kadeřábek and Kramarić, who is waiting at the back post, confidently slots home left-footed.

3. Min.

Baumann prevents the equaliser

FC also pose a major threat at the other end with their first move: David Selke shoots from a centre-right position, but Baumann manages to make the save at full stretch. A lively start.

28. Min.

Grillitsch scores the goal of the month

Beier is played in, Schwäbe puts his body on the line and slides in 40 metres from his own goal. But the ball lands right at the feet of Florian Grillitsch, who finds the empty net from the halfway line.

48. Min.

Weghorst blocks on the line

Köln almost pull a goal back: Ljubicic meets the ball on the volley from the edge of the box, but Weghorst is on the goal-line and heads the ball away with Baumann already beaten. Very important!

52. Min.

Beier with the dream strike

TSG are ruthlessly efficient today. Beier gets space and dribbles towards the box. He then fires an unstoppable curler into the top-right corner from the edge of the area. Already Maxi’s third goal of the season!

61. Min.

Selke reduces deficit

That was not good defending: Huseinbasic gets on the ball following a throw-in and then plays it through to Selke. The striker nutmegs Baumann and makes it 3-1.

82. Min.