Cup exit after 4-0 loss to Berliner AK

The game had hardly begun when the hosts turned their first chance into a 1-0 lead. A free kick from the right-hand side was initially dealt with by the TSG defence, but the ball found its way to striker Metin Cakmak. His half-volley failed to make the cleanest of contacts, but it looped over Tim Wiese and into net. BAK continued to play full of confidence and had a headed chance to extend the lead in the 13th minute, but captain Tim Wiese turned it brilliantly over the bar. After that, Hoffenheim were able to produce something themselves. Andi Beck had the first chance with a long range effort from 22 yards, but the Polish BAK keeper was able to put it behind for a corner. Kevin Volland then had a great chance for the Kraichgau club in the 28th minute, but his free kick bounced back off the post.

Then just three minutes later, the Berlin side were able to score a second goal from a quickly taken free kick. Both of the TSG central defenders had pushed up, leaving Justin Gerlach with a free run towards goal after beating the offside trap. The BAK defender then slipped the ball beyond Tim Wiese from close range. After that, Markus Babbel's side had further chances to score, the best of which came from a Stefan Thesker cross that found Boris Vukcevic, whose effort couldn't be steered in from Eren Derdiyok on the goal-line. Moments before the half-time whistle though, it was the hosts who took advantage of a swift attack to make it 3-0. Kevin Kruschke placed the ball past Wiese, who got a touch, but not enough to deflect it behind.

TSG coach Markus Babbel, who had initially stayed on the pitch for quite some time during the half-time break, tried everything and brought the creative Sejad Salihovic and Takashi Usami on for the second half. Jens Härtel's side were the ones who had the better start though. A goal-kick from Tim Wiese landed at the feet of Metin Cakmak and the Berliner striker entered the penalty area to score his second of the day; a heavy blow for any hope of TSG turning the tables.

The longer the game went on, the more the hosts retreated to their own area. TSG had a few chances from set-pieces and from long range efforts, but the goal just wouldn't come. “After a defeat like this, we simply cannot ignore the result and we must address it. We are obviously going to be criticised, but we must get back on our feet and show the form that we demonstrated in pre-season”, Babbel said after the game. Captain Tim Wiese was also bemused at the team's performance: “It was a desolate display.”

Berliner AK – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: 4-0 (3-0)

Berlin: Kisiel – Lichte, Osadchenko, Gerlach, Krstic – Kruschke (73' Blazynski), Brandt, Malinowski, Altiparmak (59' Mießner), Siemund – Cakmak (64' Avcioglu).

Hoffenheim: Wiese – Thesker, Delpierre, Vestergaard, Beck – Rudy (46' Salihovic), Weis – Firmino (61' Schipplock), Volland, Vukcevic (46' Usami) – Derdiyok.

Attendance: 1,468

Referee: Sascha Stegemann

Goals: 1-0 Cakmak (3'), 2-0 Gerlach (31'), 3-0 Kruschke (40'), 4-0 Cakmak (49').

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