FIRST TEAM
12/07/2012

No goals and no points in Hamburg

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stuttered to a 2-0 defeat against Hamburger SV in Frank Kramer's first match as interim manager. Having looked promising in the very early stages, they failed to maintain their level of play and were punished by two Artjoms Rudnevs goals.

A lot has happened in the past week for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, but focus had to be 100 percent on their opponents on Friday, Hamburger SV. Interim manager Frank Kramer opted to make no less than four changes to Markus Babbel's final starting line-up, bringing in Matthieu Delpierre, Sebastian Rudy, Eren Derdiyok and Roberto Firmino for Denis Streker, Stefan Schröck, Sven Schipplock and Joselu. Hoffenheim have been on a run of four consecutive Bundesliga defeats, but started the game looking very confident. Intricate passing and good movement allowed them to advance into Hamburg territory, but they failed to create little more than half-chances. Derdiyok was picked out with a ball over the top inside the first minute, but a heavy touch allowed Adler to come out and claim it. Soon after, Fabian Johnson found space on the left-hand side and pulled back for Roberto Firmino, but the Brazilian's striker was blocked out.

However, the opening stages of control failed to last and in the 27th minute, Hoffenheim went behind. A cross by Dennis Diekmeier found Artjoms Rudnevs 14 yards out, who looped the ball over Koen Casteels with a header to put HSV 1-0 in front in similar fashion to Bremen's opening goal in their 3-1 win over TSG last week. While it wasn't a set-piece, Kramer will still be concerned that another vital battle has been lost in the air, an aspect he intends to look at further over the coming weeks as interim boss. Hoffenheim tried to respond instantly with Roberto Firmino's strike from 20 yards out, but Adler pushed his effort behind. Hamburg came close to adding a second not long after with Son just putting a shot over and Arslan hitting the crossbar with a volley, but TSG survived and had the final chance of the half, as Salihovic stung Adler's palms again with a powerful drive, but the German international keeper looked comfortable.

Neither team returned from the dressing room looking particularly inspired, as a half-hour period passed with Hoffenheim substitutions of Schröck and Schipplock replacing Williams and Volland being the only notable moments in the match. Things changed though, when TSG conceded a free kick to the right-hand side of the area, providing their opponents with a set-piece opportunity. Once more, Hoffenheim failed to deal with it and paid the price as Hamburg doubled their lead. Dennis Aogo delivered the ball in at the near post where Marvin Compper met it with a header, but only succeeded in directing the ball towards the six-yard box. Rudnevs was in place to tuck away a volley and score his second goal of the game, confirming TSG's fifth defeat in a row.

Hoffenheim's extended slump in form leaves them four points adrift in a relegation spot, with just one more game before the winter break. The final match before the half-way point in the season is next Sunday in the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena against title holders Borussia Dortmund.

Matt Hardy


Hamburger SV:
Adler – Diekmeier, Mancienne, Westermann, Lam (79' Bruma) – Badelj – Skjelbred (85' Sala), Aogo – Arslan – Son, Rudnevs (90' Berg)

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Casteels – Beck, Delpierre, Compper, Johnson – Williams (66' Schröck), Rudy, Salihovic – Volland (71' Schipplock), Derdiyok, Roberto Firmino (86' Grifo)

Goals: 1-0 Rudnevs (27'), 2-0 Rudnevs (74')
Yellow cards: Diekmeier - Volland

Attendance: 48,121

Referee: Michael Weiner

Match facts and statistics »

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