Points shared in a game of cards and great goals

After last week's superb exhibition of counterattacking football, Hoffenheim were in a confident mood ahead of out-of-form SC Freiburg's visit and Markus Gisdol's unchanged starting eleven started the game on the front foot. The home side's eagerness to get forward was rewarded when Kevin Volland was fouled by Oliver Sorg in the box, allowing Sejad Salihovic to smash home from the spot. During his celebration though, the Bosnian appeared to lay a hand on the face of Julian Schuster and was duly sent off. TSG were made to suffer as Freiburg immediately took advantage of their extra man. Oliver Sorg controlled a short free kick from the right and his effort was deflected past Koen Casteels, giving Freiburg their equaliser.

With the half-hour mark approaching and Hoffenheim looking more stable, Kevin Volland produced a moment of magic to turn the game back in their favour. A long ball over the top was superbly controlled by the young German attacker, before he audaciously lifted the ball over Oliver Baumann into the far corner. Once again though, the home side's lead didn't last long. A good save by Casteels from a Jonathan Schmid free kick was to no avail as Schuster squared the rebound for Guede to prod home. Tobias Strobl was brought on to secure the middle of the park for the home team, and it seemed to work too as Freiburg grew frustrated. Arsenal-loanee Francis Coquelin failed to control his frustration and picked up a second yellow card to even up the numbers.

Second half drama matches the first

Ten against ten in the second half meant more running for all involved and as busy as the players were, chances were initially at a premium. When a chance did come, it fell to the visitors but Koen Casteels made a sharp reaction save to deny Jonathan Schmid. With the next goal looking like it would be the winner, the home fans' hearts were in their mouths when David Abraham headed towards his own goal after a miscommunication with Casteels. They breathed a sigh of relief when the ball landed on top of the netting, but a corner moments later left them with their heads in their hands. Sebastian Freis got away from Volland to curl a volley into the far corner and give Streich's men the lead for the first time in the game.

Hoffenheim were worthy of at least a point and pushed for an equaliser in the last 15 minutes. Roberto Firmino drilled a low free kick into the wall before substitute Sven Schipplock scuffed an effort at Baumann. Just as it looked as though the afternoon was going to end sourly for TSG, Tobias Strobl found space 30 yards from goal and launched a rising effort past Baumann to score his first, Hoffenheim's third and the sixth goal of the game. There was still time for Freiburg substitute Admir Mehmedi to be dismissed for a gesture towards the referee, and Hoffenheim looked like they had taken advantage of their extra man when the ever-persistent Modeste got in behind Baumann, but his effort agonisingly hit the post to keep the score at 3-3 come the final whistle. The result leaves Hoffenheim unbeaten so far this season, a run they will be keen to continue when they face VfB Stuttgart next week at 15:30 CET on September 1st.

Jonathan Harding

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Casteels – Beck, Abraham, Vestergaard, Johnson – Polanski (72' Schipplock), Salihovic – Volland, Firmino, Elyounoussi (33' Strobl) – Modeste

SC Freiburg: Baumann – Mujdza (83' Hoefler), Ginter, Diagne (75' Krmas), Sorg – Schmid, Schuster, Fernandes, Coquelin – Freis, Guede (72' Mehmedi)

Goals: 1-0 Salihovic (9' pen.), 1-1 Sorg (13'), 2-1 Volland (25'), 2-2 Guede (29'), 2-3 Freis (66'), 3-3 Strobl (78')

Yellow cards: Elyounoussi – Coquelin, Mujdza, Fernandes

Red cards: Salihovic – Coquelin, Mehmedi

Referee: Tobias Stieler

Attendance: 24,118

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