FIRST TEAM
07/31/2011

1899 need extra time to brush aside Windeck

1899 Hoffenheim have made it through to the second round of the DFB Pokal with an underwhelming performance. In new head coach, Holger Stanislawski's first competitive match in charge of the Sinsheim side his charges needed extra time to defeat lower league minnows Germania Windeck. After trailing 1-0 at the break, the Kraichgau outfit drew level before Ryan Babel and Fabian Johnson scored in extra time to wrap up a 3-1 victory.

Underdogs take the lead

With roughly 500 travelling 1899 supporters creating as good an atmosphere as they could, 1899 began the match purposefully, putting their opponents on the back foot early on. Without the likes of Ibisevic, Sigurdsson, Ibertsberger, Jaissle, Vukcevic and Gulde, it was left to Babel and Firmino to boss the midfield, which they did well with the Brazilian going close from distance and the Dutchman whipping in a dangerous cross that no one got on the end of. Chances were hard come by as Hoffenheim dominated possession mostly inside their opponents half, while Germania Windeck attempted to use the long ball to bring it forward, but with little success. Firmino continued to look lively with another decent effort from range and a header that went inches over the bar. However, with Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen and Freiburg already out of the competition at the hands of lower league opposition, 1899 Hoffenheim needed no further warning about their sixth division opponents when they took the lead in the 36th minute. After the initial corner was cleared out of touch, the second caught 1899 napping as Florian Buchholz found himself unmarked at the front post to head home putting the home team in front. Hoffe responded well, but referee Bastian Dankert twice turned away penalty claims, one for a clear handball and another for a less significant foul in the box meaning the sides went in at half-time with the score line at 1-0.

Salihovic saves the day

Stanislawski reacted during the break by bringing on Chinedu Obasi for Penial Mlapa as Hoffenheim once again started on the front foot. Within five minutes of the restart, after several failed attempts, they finally got a penalty decision to go their way. The foul, this time on Schipplock, saw Sejad Salihovic step up and slot the ball into the right hand corner for the equaliser. The Bosnian almost got his second moments later, but his free kick flew just wide, before Firmino missed the target with another shot from distance. 1899 were creating the chances, but failing to convert, as Obasi became the next culprit when his shot was palmed away by the opposing goalkeeper. Tagoe entered for Schipplock should have breathed new life into the 1899 attack, but as the game got scrappier towards the end of the match, the chances dried up somewhat. Stanislawski's side had 80% possession in the final five minutes, but lacked penetration. Windeck's were resilient and when Babel, Firmino and Tagoe combined to finally break them down, Reed was there to clear in the dying seconds of the game to send into to added on time.

Johnson and Babel wrap up a hard day's work

Even in extra-time 1899 struggled to breakdown their opponents, but were determined to score the decider as quickly as possible. It arrived in the 98th minute when substitute Fabian Johnson linked well with Obasi before finding the back of the net with a neat finish to put the Sinsheim side ahead for the first time in the match. Windeck were visibly crushed by the goal and Ryan Babel only made matters worse when he added a third in the 116th minute with a great free kick. It was a deserved win, albeit an unconvincing one, for Holger Stanislawski's side.

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