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TSG beaten at home by Werder
Line-up and tactics:
Markus Gisdol made zero changes to the starting XI that took to the field before the international break in Darmstadt: Pavel Kaderabek, Niklas Süle, Fabian Schär and Jin-Su Kim formed the back four in front of Oliver Baumann. In the midfield, TSG matched Werder’s diamond formation with one of their own: Schwegler in the holding position, Zuber and Polanski on either side just in front, and Mark Uth as a number ten. Kevin Kuranyi and Kevin Volland started as the attacking duo. When defending, the players adopted a 4-3-3 formation: Uth pushed forward between the Kevins, while Zuber and Polanski joined their captain Schwegler in the defensive midfield.
Hoffenheim reshuffled in the second 45. Half-time substitutions saw Eduardo Vargas make his debut appearance in place of Kuranyi, while Zuber made way for Jonathan Schmid. The diamond was reshaped into a flat bank of four with Polanski and Schwegler in the centre and Volland and Schmid on the wings, leaving Uth and Vargas as the strikers.
Match highlights
7
The free-kick specialists Werder create the first chance of the game from a set piece, as Johannsson heads just wide. Early warning for TSG.
27
Junuzovic picks up the ball on the left at the edge of the box, finds a bit of space, goes for goal but watches his shot go a yard wide of the post. Baumann watched the whole thing and appeared to have it covered anyway.
45
Goal for Werder. Hoffenheim fail to clear from the cross, the ball bounces around the penalty area before eventually falling for Junuzovic, who fires home to put his team ahead at the break.
49
GOAL for Hoffenheim! Vargas comes on and scores immediately! Uth plays an inch-perfect pass into the path of new signing, who slides it under the keeper with his first touch to level the scores. 1-1.
55
What an effort! Schär with a shot from 25 yards which the keeper can only parry out for a corner.
58
Volland tries to beat the keeper at the near post from the edge of the box, his shot is saved and Uth nearly makes it to the rebound. Hoffenheim now looking the stronger of the two sides.
86
Lovely football from TSG down the left-hand side. Kim plays it to Uth, then on to Vargas who finds Schmid in space in the box, but his final ball didn’t reach anyone. The game is still in the balance.
90 + 1
Heartbreak for TSG! Ujah scores in stoppage time to win the game after the substitute Pizarro showed quick feet to find his strike partner in a bit of space just eight yards from goal.
90 + 2
Salt in the wounds of TSG as Junuzovic squeezes the ball past Baumann at the near post from a tight angle with the last kick of the game to make it 3-1.
90 + 3
Full time in Sinsheim. TSG beaten 3-1… After a second half in which Hoffenheim were piling on the pressure, the result leaves everyone involved at TSG baffled. It’s a painful third defeat from four games for Hoffenheim.
Moment of the match:
TSG win the ball back in their own penalty area, Polanski plays it forward for Volland, who only knows how to play in top gear, but he’s forced to move over to the right to avoid four Werder players. What then? A back heel out of nowhere brings Mark Uth into the attack and takes all four Werder players out of the game. Exquisite stuff! He made it look easy. Great football.
Number of the match: 61.1%
This was the possession stat for TSG against Werder. In the second half, having the ball led to chances, but Werder scored the goals and won the game in the final minutes.
Match facts and statistics »
