TSG 1899 Hoffenheim were under heavy pressure at home against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team was up to the task. And finally he showed a respectable performance in the 3:1 (1:0) win. However, VfL gave away a potential equalizer shortly before the end.
Goalkeeper Andrej Kramaric gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in Sinsheim in the 11th minute. More clear-cut chances were not taken for the dominant Kraichgauer team at first.
After VAR disallowed Marius Bülter’s goal to make it 2-0 shortly after the break, the striker followed through in the 65th minute and scored Hoffenheim’s second goal. Tensions only rose in the final stages when Cristian Gamboa made it 2-1 for VfL (77′).
Daschner Bochum fails with a penalty kick
But it was no longer enough for Bochum to win a point. Because Lukas Daschner failed with a penalty kick against the national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann three minutes before the end. Haris Tabakovic then increased the score to 3-1 in stoppage time.
Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was relieved: “It was a very important victory today.” He saw a fighting spirit and determination: “And I am very happy with Haris that he is topping it with his first Bundesliga goal.” However, he expressed a misunderstanding about Bülter’s goal being disallowed to the outside: “I don’t understand why it’s not included.”
Sports show, October 19, 2024 5:30 pm
However, disappointment on the part of Bochum. “It would have been more than possible to win a point. A penalty in the last minute you usually take is 2-2,” said Bochum coach Peter Zeidler, who was quite happy with his team’s performance in the second half . But: “It’s about results, I don’t want to talk about that. We have to get them as quickly as possible.”
Bochum is far too harmless
The 19,281 spectators in the Sinsheim Arena saw a strong host at the start. Things got dangerous again and again in the first ten minutes before Bochum’s goal. Kramaric put Hoffenheim’s superiority on the scoreboard. It was the Croatian’s fifth goal of the season. The Bochum team, which was missing Bernardo and Matus Bero, was not a serious opponent for Kraichgauer’s team after that. The game took place almost exclusively on or in the VfL penalty area. Kramaric should have increased the score from close range in the 16th minute. Eight minutes later, the 33-year-old hit the crossbar.
Zeidler’s team, who worked at TSG as Ralf Rangnick’s assistant from 2008 to 2011, responded well to the narrow deficit after 25 minutes. “We want to see you fight,” echoed from the Bochum fan block. The request did not help. The Hoffenheim team, which had to do without the suspended Grischa Prömel, Ihlas Bebou, Ozan Kabak, David Jurasek, Pavel Kaderabek and Stanley Nsoki, continued to manage events. In the 39th minute, Kramaric was unable to take advantage of another great opportunity.
Hoffenheim’s usury of opportunities was almost punished
There was little revenge for the missed opportunities shortly before the break. But Koji Miyoshi was unable to overcome Baumann (43′). At the start of the second half, Zeidler introduced three new players: Moritz Kwarteng, Ibrahima Sissoko and Lukas Daschner. Seconds later, Daschner almost missed the equalizer (47′).
On the other hand, a goal from Bülter was disallowed due to a narrow outside position (49th). Fifteen minutes later there was no doubt about the former Schalke player’s goal. Gamboa made the game unexpectedly exciting again. However, after a foul from Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma, Baumann was there to take the penalty.
Hoffenheim in Heidenheim, Bochum against Bayern
On the next day, the team from Hoffenheim goes to Heidenheim on Sunday (October 27, 2024, 7:30 pm). For VfL Bochum, the first opponent is FC Bayern München a few hours earlier (3:30 pm).