FIRST TEAM

10/03/2024

Hložek bags brace as TSG beat Dynamo

The first victory of the Europa League season: TSG Hoffenheim have won 2-0 (1-0) against Dynamo Kyiv. Adam Hložek fired TSG into the lead in the 22nd minute during a strong spell. The Czech struck again in the second period following a lovely one-two with Andrej Kramarić (59). Hoffenheim subsequently saw the win over the line without any problems.

Personnel matters

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made four changes to the starting XI that suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of SV Werder Bremen. Anton Stach, Valentin Gendrey, Andrej Kramarić and Max Moerstedt started in place of Pavel Kadeřábek, Umut Tohumcu, Marius Bülter and Mergim Berisha.

The scenario

This was the second Europa League match of the season for both teams. Dynamo Kyiv lost 3-0 to Lazio in their opening game, while TSG drew 1-1 away to FC Midtjylland. Dynamo came as league leaders in the Ukrainian league, while TSG were in 16th place in the Bundesliga.

Moment of the match

The goal for 2-0: After taking the lead in the first half, TSG subsequently withdrew somewhat and the match became more even. But after playing a lovely one-two with Andrej Kramarić, Adam Hložek scored for the second time and decided the match with his low strike (59).

Number of the game: 1316

There were 1,316 days between TSG Hoffenheim's last two Europa League home games. TSG last played a home game against Molde FK on 25 February 2021 (2-0 defeat).

Debut of the day:

Max Moerstedt made the TSG Hoffenheim starting line-up for a competitive match for the first time.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim will continue their Europa League campaign with a trip to Porto on 24 October. TSG are next in Bundesliga action away to VfB Stuttgart on Sunday (19:30 CEST).

Stats

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma (Drexler, 74), Stach, Nsoki – Gendrey, (Kadeřábek, 56) Bischof, Grillitsch (Tohumcu, 56), Prass – Kramarić (Bülter, 74), Hložek – Moerstedt (Bruun Larsen, 87)

Dynamo Kyiv: Bushchan – Karavaiev, Popov, Mykhavko, Dubinchak – Mykhailenko (Pikhalyonok, 69), Brazhko (Andiryevsky, 84), Shaparenko (Shepelev, 90+4) – Kabaiev (Rubchynskyi, 84), Vanat (Guerrero, 69), Voloshyn

Goals: 1-0 Hložek (22), 2-0 Hložek (59)

Match highlights

16. Min.

Bischof narrowly wide

Good free-kick opportunity for TSG: Bischof goes for goal directly from a centre-right position but the ball sails narrowly wide of the post.

17. Min.

Kramarić spurns chance for opener

That should have been 1-0: TSG press Kyiv on the edge of the penalty area and win the ball back, but Kramarić fires very narrowly wide of the right upright from 15 metres.

22. Min.

A deserved lead

The overdue opener! After a lovely diagonal ball from Grillitsch to Gendrey, the Frenchman delivers a low ball into the penalty area where Hložek slots home unchallenged.

23. Min.

Moerstedt fails to swiftly double lead

TSG almost add another immediately: Grillitsch drives the ball forward and feeds Moerstedt but his shot lacks accuracy and Bushchan makes the save.

25. Min.

Chances by the minute

Outstanding outside-of-the-boot pass by Bischof, but the Dynamo goalkeeper gets to the ball at the last moment and saves Kramarić's shot to thwart the danger.

59. Min.

Hložek bags brace

A very nice goal. Hložek initiates the attack himself down the left. He then cuts into the middle at tempo, plays a one-two with Kramarić and fires powerfully into the bottom-right corner.