La Manga Day 7: 1899 draw with FC Twente

Vorsah fills in, in midfield

1899 Hoffenheim had enjoyed an successful winter training camp, but before they flew home they had to take on FC Twente of the Eredivisie in Holland a game which gave new manager Marco Pezzaiuoli a chance to experiment with a few of his players. Notably putting Isaac Vosah in midfield alongside Rudy and new signing Alaba, while Jaissle, who just signed a contract extension at the club, slotted into the defence next to Compper, Beck and Ibertsberger. The three-pronged attack consisted of Sigurdsson, Salihovic and Vedad Ibisevic, while Tom Starke completed the starting eleven.

Salihovic misses from the spot

It took Hoffenheim some time to get themselves into the match, but it was a Salihovic set piece that brought the first chance for 1899. His corner found Isaac Vorsah unmarked in the box, but unfortunately his header flew just over the bar. Moments later Hoffenheim played fantastic football as the build-up play involved Salihovic, Rudy and Sigurdsson, but after some wonderful interchange Sigurdsson's ball into the box missed Ibisevic's outstretched leg by millimetres. 1899 kept the pressure on as well and should have taken the lead when Ibisevic was brought down in the box, but his international compatriot Sejad Salihovic did the unthinkable and missed from the spot and put his effort over the bar. It seemed only a matter of time before Hoffenheim would find an opening, but it wasn't to happen before half time as FC Twente keeper Mihaylov came to the rescue for his team twice after efforts by Salihovic from 25 yards and Alaba.

Ibisevic to the rescue

Two changes for Pezzaiuoli at half time with Vukcevic replacing Vorsah and Simunic coming on for Compper. The second half picked up where the first left off with 1899 creating all the chances. This time it was Sigurdsson's turn to have an effort at goal, but couldn't find the target. Moments later a lack of a cutting edge came back to cost 1899 as FC Twente took a surprising lead. Chadli played the ball perfectly into the path of De Jong who gave Daniel Haas no chance in goal, turning the game on its head. The goal injected confidence back into the Dutch team and they began playing some nice football and even forced Josip Simunic to clear off the line at one point. Luckily for 1899, though, Vedad Ibisevic is always worth a goal especially when the game turned back in Hoffenheim's favour. It didn't come from open play as he showed Salihovic how to convert from the spot after a handball in the area saw the referee award a penalty for the second time in the match. The game petered out towards the end and only a trick shot from Janssen from 40 yards caused any trouble, but even he could only find the post.

"We had 12 clear cut chances today, but didn't finish any of them and that is something we're going to have to work on. Outside of that I'm pleased with our performance and I feel like this team is on the way to big things", stated new manager Marco Pezzaiuoli after the match.

Stats and Facts

1899 Hoffenheim - Twente Enschede 1:1 (0:0)

Hoffenheim: Starke (45. Haas) - Beck, Jaissle (56. Compper), Compper (45. Simunic), Ibertsberger - Rudy, Vorsah (45. Vukcevic), Alaba - Sigurdsson (60. Mlapa), Salihovic (60. Weis), Ibisevic (80. Firmino). Goals: 0:1 de Jong (55.), 1:1 Ibisevic (72. Penalty). Attendance: 250. Cards: -.