Kramarić scores late leveller: Spoils shared against Köln

TSG Hoffenheim have drawn 1-1 (0-0) with 1. FC Köln. The spectators at the PreZero Arena saw hardly any scoring chances in an uneventful and dogged first half. The game continued in the same fashion for much of the second period, with the first goal of the game almost inevitably coming from a set-piece: Max Finkgräfe scored for Köln via a direct free-kick (79). But TSG did not give up and Andrej Kramarić equalised in stoppage time (90+4).

Personnel

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made three changes to the starting line-up that drew 2-2 at VfL Wolfsburg: the suspended John Anthony Brooks was replaced by Florian Grillitsch, while Robert Skov and Ihlas Bebou began in place of Anton Stach and Andrej Kramarić.

The scenario

TSG Hoffenheim went into the matchday in eighth position with 26 points, while Köln had 15 points on the board and were in 16th position – the relegation play-off place.

Moment of the match

The goal for 1-1: Andrej Kramarić levelled the scores in the fourth minute of stoppage time and rescued a point for TSG.

Number of the game: 1

TSG have only managed to avoid conceding in one game this season – Hoffenheim have been waiting 16 matches for a clean sheet.

Debut of the day

David Jurásek made his first appearance for TSG and thus became the second Czech to play for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga after Pavel Kadeřábek.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim have another home game coming up next weekend: 1. FC Union Berlin will be the visitors to Sinsheim on Saturday. Kick-off is at 15:30 CET.

Stats

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Grillitsch, Nsoki – Kadeřábek (Akpoguma, 67), Prömel, Tohumcu (Stach, 67), Skov (Jurásek, 82) – Bebou (Conté, 82), Weghorst (Kramarić, 67), Beier

1. FC Köln: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Kilian, Chabot, Finkgräfe (Heintz, 89) – Martel, Huseinbasic – Alidou (Tigges, 74), Kainz (Maina, 58), Ljubicic – Thielmann (Adamyan, 89)

Goals: 0-1 Finkräfe (79), 1-1 Kramarić (90+4)

Match highlights

14. Min.

Bebou spurns chance for opener

Bebou gets the ball following a move involving Beier and Weghorst. The striker sidesteps Finkgräfe and then fires only narrowly wide of Marvin Schwäbe’s goal.

43. Min.

Weghorst fires over the bar

The chance to take the lead: Skov picks out Weghorst in the box, who fires over the crossbar on the turn. That could’ve been it!

64. Min.

Skov's shot blocked

That should’ve been 1-0: Bebou cuts into the penalty area and squares the ball to Skov, but a Köln defender throws himself into the path of the Dane’s shot and thwarts the danger.