TSG win at Union thanks to strong first half

Connect Four: TSG Hoffenheim claimed a 2-0 (2-0) victory away to 1. FC Union Berlin. Andrej Kramarić fired TSG in front when he slotted home from the spot (22) and Maximilian Beier made it 2-0 before the interval (38). The Berlin outfit upped the pressure in the second period but TSG managed to see their fourth win in a row over the line.

The line-up

Pellegrino Matarazzo made one change to the starting line-up compared to the 3-1 away win over 1. FC Köln. Anton Stach replaced Florian Grillitsch, who was suffering from muscular problems in his thigh, in a like-for-like switch in front of the defence. Otherwise, Matarazzo kept faith in the same players.

The scenario

TSG Hoffenheim had won three of their first four games of the season and were in the top third of the table with nine points. Meanwhile, the Berlin outfit had suffered three competitive defeats in a row and dropped down to eighth place in the Bundesliga.

Moment of the match

The 59th minute: Following a misunderstanding between Robert Skov and Kevin Vogt, Kevin Behrens shot from 25 metres out and only had to slot the ball into the empty net. But he fired narrowly wide and failed to pull a goal back. Oliver Baumann, who had been involved in the build-up play beforehand, could only watch the play unfold – and breathed a sigh of relief.

Number of the game: 4

Maximilian Beier scored a goal for the fourth Bundesliga match on the bounce. He diverted Grischa Prömel's cross home with the tips of his toes to put Hoffenheim into a 2-0 lead in the 38th minute. It was TSG's fourth consecutive Bundesliga victory.

The standout slide tackle

The 50th minute: John Anthony Brooks lost the ball in a dangerous position during build-up play, allowing Union Berlin to launch a dangerous counter. Sheraldo Becker appeared to have been threaded through, only for Anton Stach to thwart the dangerous attack with a strong sliding tackle from behind.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim will finally play another home game next week. After two away matches on the bounce, they will welcome Borussia Dortmund to the PreZero Arena on Friday. Kick-off is at 20:30 CET.

Stats

Line-ups:

Union Berlin: Rönnow – Leite, Bonucci (Kaufmann, 81), Doekhi – Juranovic, Tousart (Laidouni, 75), Gosens (Roussillon, 81) – Aaronson (Fofana, 46), Haberer – Becker (Hollerbach, 69), Behrens

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Brooks, Vogt – Kadeřábek (Akpoguma, 90+2), Stach, Skov (Bülter, 74) – Prömel, Kramarić (Becker, 74) – Beier (Berisha, 55), Weghorst (Bebou, 55)

Goals: 0-1 Kramarić (pen., 22), 0-2 Beier (38)

Match highlights

22. Min.

Kramarić opens the scoring

Kramarić goes clean through on Rönnow following a long ball and is then brought down by Bonucci. The TSG striker coolly slots the clear penalty into the bottom right corner. Rönnow goes the right way but can’t get to it.

38. Min.

Beier adds another

TSG counter: Prömel is fed down the right and has the vision to spot Beier, who runs perfectly into the box and very lightly touches the ball with the tips of his toes. The contact is enough to find the bottom left corner.

58. Min.

Bebou strikes side-netting

TSG counter and have the chance to make it 3-0 out of the blue. Berisha asserts himself superbly and finds Bebou, who shoots. His attempt takes a deflection and hits the side-netting.

59. Min.

TSG get lucky

Lucky for TSG: Skov plays a pass between Brooks and Vogt. Behrens sprints between them and fires at an empty net but shoots very narrowly wide from 25 metres. That should have been a goal back.