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TSG win in Anderlecht, but exit competition
Line-up
Christian Ilzer had to make several changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Eintracht Frankfurt: Valentin Gendrey, Anton Stach and Andrej Kramarić were absent with injuries, with Robin Hranáč, Dennis Geiger and David Mokwa replacing them in the starting XI.
The scenario
TSG were in 28th place in the UEFA Europa League ahead of the final matchday of the league phase and needed a win to have any chance of progressing. RSC Anderlecht went into the final matchday in seventh place in the table, but missed out on direct qualification for the round of 16 due to their defeat.
Moment of the Match
The goal to make it 2-1: Dennis Geiger won the ball in midfield and then had the vision to bring Tom Bischof into play. The 19-year-old received the ball and drove forward before finishing with aplomb to give Hoffenheim the lead.
Number of the game: 18
A total of 18 players from the first-team squad were missing for TSG in Anderlecht - but Christian Ilzer's team still won with a convincing performance.
Best support
More than 1,000 TSG fans made the journey to Belgium on Thursday to support their team. The sold-out guest block in blue and white provided outstanding support during the whole game.
Outlook
TSG face the reigning German champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Sunday (kick-off 17:30 CET).
Facts
Line-up:
RSC Anderlecht: Kikkenborg – Sardella (69, Maamar), Dendoncker, Simic, Augustinsson – Verschaeren (69, Leoni), Rits, De Greef – Amuzu (69, Angulo), Vazquez (78, Goto), Hazard (57, Stroeykens)
TSG Hoffenheim: L. Philipp, Arthur Chaves, Hranáč, Akpoguma, Jurásek – Geiger (77, Erlein), Becker – Mokwa (90+1 Behrens), Bischof (77, Micheler), Hložek (70, Bülter) - Moerstedt
Goals: 1-0 Vazquez (18), 1-1 Hranáč (41), 1-2 Bischof (54), 1-3 Mokwa (59), 1-4 Hložek (65), 2-4 Goto (79), 3-4 Augustinsson (3-4)
Match highlights
Anderlecht take the lead
The home side score the first goal of the game: a clever pass plays Luis Vazquez through. He skips past Hranac and curls an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
Verschaeren hits the post
So close to a second goal for the Belgians: Verschaeren has far too much space 20 metres from goal and is able to get off a shot, which hits the post. Philipp was left stranded.
TSG equalise
TSG are back in it from out of nowhere! After a corner, Hranac gets a free header and finds the back of the net. His first goal for TSG!
TSG take the lead!
Hoffe have turned the game around! Geiger wins the ball very strongly in midfield and picks out Bischof, who receives the ball on the left and cuts inside towards the edge of the box before drilling a shot into the far-corner.
Mokwa extends the lead for TSG
Hoffenheim are rewarded for a very strong phase of play: Mokwa takes the ball in midfield and passes to Moerstedt. He shoots but is denied by the goalkeeper, but Mokwa then follows up to finish on the rebound.
Hlozek makes it 4-1
What's going on here? TSG have another goal! This time it's Hlozek who keeps his cool in the penalty area to find the back of the net.
The substitute scores straight away
The substitution pays off immediately: Goto receives the ball with his back to goal near the six-yard box. He quickly turns and fires home.
A wonder goal to make it 4-3
Anderlecht come back within touching distance: Augustinsson hits a perfect volley which flies unstoppably in off the right post.
Match facts and statistics »
