Vogt, Berisha & Becker score as TSG beat Luzern

3-1 victory against FC Luzern: TSG Hoffenheim have used the international period to hold a friendly and have won their match against the top-flight club from Switzerland. With 12 first-team players currently away on duty with their national teams and several players carrying injuries and knocks, Anton Stach made his debut in a TSG Hoffenheim shirt, while Mergim Berisha started for the first time too.

But the first chance of the game fell to the visitors from Luzern. Dario Ulrich crossed the ball from the right flank and Nicky Beloko fired the ball only narrowly wide of the left upright (12). TSG immediately created their first opportunity of the match, only for Berisha's header to just miss the target. Following a short drinks break amid hot temperatures and blazing sunshine, Luzern striker Kemal Ademi went clean through on Luca Philipp but the TSG goalkeeper denied him with a strong reflex save (28). The resultant corner brought about the opening goal: Ulrich crossed the ball into the penalty box, where the unmarked Ademi volleyed home from 12 metres to put Luzern in front (29). Butler was fouled on the edge of the penalty area 10 minutes later and Kevin Vogt confidently dispatched the resultant spot-kick to restore parity (39).

TSG increased the pressure after the interval, but it was a set-piece that brought about the first good opportunity. Robert Skov struck the bar with a free-kick (56). But Hoffenheim took the lead shortly afterwards. Finn Ole Becker crossed the ball into the middle from the right following some lovely link-up play and Berisha slotted home from close range to claim his first goal for Hoffenheim (59). Becker almost scored himself two minutes later, only to see his lob cleared off the goal-line. But then Becker did have cause for celebration in the 65th minute: Stanley Nsoki's cross to the back post was very nicely cut back into the middle by Max Moerstedt and Becker found the bottom left corner from seven metres.

"The temperature was very high, but we still played a good game. It is important for every striker to score, that of course gives you self-belief too. I'm delighted about that and am hoping for more goals," commented Mergim Berisha.

Anton Stach said of his debut: "There have been a lot of new impressions for me in recent days. We had a few coordination issues at the beginning but then we increasingly came into it. I felt well integrated, had the ball a lot and was able to play in my preferred position."

Pellegrino Matarazzo said: "I saw a lot of positive things. We tried a different formation in the second half and I was able to field several young players. You could see that Anton can play well in the No. 6 position and he will continue to grow in strength over the next few weeks. Mergim was very lively, held up the ball a lot and showed his love for the game."

The fourth matchday of the Bundesliga season is coming up next week, with Pellegrino Matarazzo's team away to 1. FC Köln on Saturday (16/9, 15:30 CET / Live Ticker at tsg-hoffenheim.de).

Stats

TSG line-up: Philipp – Vogt (König, 76), Brooks (Adams, 46), Nsoki (Schmahl, 81) – Justvan (Kadeřábek, 46), Stach (Lässig, 81), Skov (Justvan, 57) – Becker (Kelati, 76), Prömel (Tohumcu, 46) – Butler (Moerstedt, 46), Berisha (Bülter, 76)

Goals: 0-1 Ademi (29), 1-1 Vogt (pen., 39), 2-1 Berisha (59), 3-1 Becker (65).

Match facts and statistics »