Union Berlin has to worry about its first participation in the Champions League again. TSG Hoffenheim, on the other hand, is practically saved after the 4: 2 (2: 1) over the Iron.
The fans of TSG Hoffenheim stormed the pitch in their enthusiasm, the players from Union Berlin were also celebrated by the supporters who had traveled with them – the Champions League dream of the Irons is suddenly back in style after the 2: 4 (1: 2) in Sinsheim Danger. Due to the defeat at Hoffenheim, who are now practically saved, Union is only ahead of fifth-placed SC Freiburg on goal difference before the last matchday.
“We gave the first half away. I can’t think of any words to say about that,” Rani Khedira quarreled on the Sky microphone and lamented “too little intensity and fire on the pitch”. At the season finale against Werder Bremen next Saturday, the team will have to “put Union Berlin back on the field”, says Khedira, “then we will celebrate the home win”. And very likely move into the premier class for the first time.
TSG Hoffenheim, who have staggered at times this season, are 99.9 percent certain of staying up in the league. If VfB Stuttgart doesn’t win at FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday, it’s already watertight before the season finale with the Swabians. Hoffenheim’s sports director Alexander Rosen already celebrated it on Saturday. “I’m really happy, it was an explosion of relief,” he said. “Basically, with this quality in the team, we shouldn’t be happy about staying up on Matchday 33.”
Ihlas Bebou (22nd), Andrej Kramaric (36th / penalty kick / 90th) and Munas Dabbur (90th + 9) scored for Hoffenheim. The goals of Danilho Doekhi (45+4) and Aissa Laidouni (90+5) were not enough for Berlin.
TSG Hoffenheim: Fans cause an interruption
In front of 30,150 spectators in Sinsheim, the game had to be interrupted for several minutes right at the start because TSG fans used pyrotechnics to cover the arena in smoke.
When the view was reasonably clear again, battle was the order of the day. The spectators waited in vain for chances to score in the first 20 minutes. That changed after a blunder by Berlin defense chief Diogo Leite. Bebou didn’t need to be asked twice and gave TSG the lead thanks to Leite’s “preliminary work”, whose planned return with a header went completely wrong.
After falling behind, the guests, who were missing the sick Robin Knoche and Andras Schäfer, clearly increased the number of strokes. Khedira created a threat from a distance in front of Hoffenheim’s goal for the first time (30′).
The next goal fell again on the other side, Kramaric scored from the point. Leite had previously fouled the Austrian Christoph Baumgartner – at least that’s what referee Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle), whose whistle had initially remained silent, recognized when studying the video.
The Kraichgauer didn’t bring the two-goal lead into the break. Doekhi headed in from a corner from captain Christopher Trimmel in injury time in the first half.
At the beginning of the second half, the Berliners intensified their offensive efforts, Sheraldo Becker twice had the equalizer on his feet (54th/64th). Hoffenheim increased to 3:1. Union still tried everything again.
TSG Hoffenheim – Union Berlin: The voices of the game
Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim coach): “We saw a good first half from us. That was clever, that was mature. We took our chances effectively. In the second half we had to withstand the enormous pressure from Union.”
Urs Fischer (Coach Union Berlin): “What can I say? Football is a game of mistakes. Today we made too many mistakes. We made individual mistakes and gave gifts. The second half was very good, we created pressure and had two huge chances to make it 2-2.”
TSG Hoffenheim – Union Berlin: The data for the game
