TSG Hoffenheim has ended its black series. In the basement duel against Hertha BSC there was a 3: 1 (2: 0) success. Kevin-Prince Boateng spoke up for the Berliners after the game – and defended a teammate.
Pellegrino Matarazzo hugged his 911 king Andrej Kramaric and savored the sweet feeling of victory to the full. With the 3-1 (2-0) success in the basement duel against Hertha BSC, TSG Hoffenheim ended their black series of 14 games without a threesome and Matarazzo saved his job. “The coach is doing sensationally well. Now things should calm down,” said attacking player Christoph Baumgartner sky.
TSG improved to 15th place, but sports director Alexander Rosen gave the warning. “Of course I’m relieved. But that was only one game, that can only be the beginning,” said Rosen after seven defeats in a row.
At Hertha BSC, on the other hand, the air is thick. “What we offered today was not acceptable,” complained Kevin-Prince Boateng: “It was just not enough. We all have to question ourselves, look in the mirror, just shut up and work.”
And further: “I heard that there is a shitstorm against Florian Niederlechner, because he sat on the bench and looked at his cell phone. He was on the phone to see how the table is. I want the young man to be left alone.” Niederlechner is an absolute “full-blooded player” who only wants to help Hertha.
Niederlechner himself spoke up in the evening via Instagram: “Dear Hertha fans, absolutely unfortunate scene, but I only checked the results of the other competitors with my teammate !! Nothing more !! I just want to stay up,” he wrote his story.
Hoffenheim – Hertha: Dabbur sees red after two minutes
Hertha-Schreck Kramaric first by hand (24th), then by penalty kick (37th) and Ihlas Bebou (51st) scored for the Kraichgauer. Kramaric has not scored as often against any other club as against Berlin (twelve goals). “You could tell from the first second how important the game is to us,” said Baumgartner.
The victory was no longer in danger after Munas Dabbur received a red card for foul play (71′). Stevan Jovetic (90 + 2) only shortened in added time for the guests, who slipped to the relegation rank.
The 25,027 spectators in Sinsheim saw a largely balanced encounter in the first few minutes. Pavel Kaderabek had the best opportunity in the early stages for Hoffenheim (8′) after Kramaric’s preparatory work.
Hertha had little to offer on the offensive. The isolated attempts at attack by the Berliners did not pose any danger. Hoffenheim were close to taking the lead in the 20th minute, but Kramaric was saved by goalkeeper Oliver Christensen. Shortly thereafter, the Croatian did better from the penalty spot. The ball had previously landed in Tolga Cigerci’s hand.
The hosts stayed on the trigger even after the goal. Kaderabek narrowly missed from the edge of the penalty area (32′). Only five minutes later, Kramaric kept his nerve again from eleven meters. Bebou was fouled by Filip Uremovic on the counterattack.
At the beginning of the second half, Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz brought in two fresh offensive players in Dodi Lukebakio and Jovetic. Shortly afterwards, Hoffenheim were lucky that Hertha didn’t get a penalty after a handball by Robert Skov (49′). A little later, Bebou completed a strong counterattack on the other side.
After that, there were more goals for TSG against weak Berliners. Dabbur did his team a disservice by grossly fouling Lukebakio just two minutes after his substitution.
TSG Hoffenheim – Hertha BSC: The voices
Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim coach): “We came into the game very cautiously. We grew with the opening goal. I’m happy for the team that they got their reward.”
Sandro Schwarz (Hertha BSC coach): “It was a fully deserved defeat. We didn’t perform well and gave gifts. The penalties were clear. We didn’t react well after that.”
