#150 - No shortage of unbelievable games at home

2008/2009 – Matchday 2 – TSG 1-0 BMG

It was a historic day for TSG. A few months after completing their march out of the Regionalliga into the Bundesliga, the club hosted their first Bundesliga home game. The WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena didn’t exist back then, and so TSG played their first game at home in Mannheim’s Carl-Benz-Stadion (and the following home games for the first half of the season). Gladbach came, and Gladbach were sent back home with no points in their pocket, as Vedad Ibisevic scored the game’s sole goal in the 31st minute to start a new chapter in TSG’s history books.

2008/2009 – Matchday 18 – TSG 2-0 COT

The WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena was introduced with a large bang on 24th January 2009, and only one week later, TSG had their first Bundesliga home game in their new stadium. What’s more, the debut of the stadium ended in a win, just as beautifully as the first home match in Mannheim. Demba Ba scored the first goal in the new stadium, and Boubacar Sanogo scored the second, as TSG triumphed 2-0 over Cottbus. That’s a proper housewarming.

2009/2010 – Matchday 7 – TSG 5-1 BSC

TSG celebrated their highest Bundesliga win against Hertha Berlin up that point. One man was particularly unstoppable against Berlin: Vedad Ibisevic. The striker put the result beyond doubt early with a quick-fire hat-trick. ‘Vedo’ scored in the first minute. And the fourth minute. And then took a little longer to score again, making it 3-0 in 21 minutes. TSG were putting on a show, with Raffael’s goal to make it 3-1 being the interlude. Chinedu Obasi and Carlos Eduardo (penalty) put the icing on the cake. What a day for ‘Vedo’, and what a day for TSG.

2013/2014 – Matchday 3 – TSG 3-3 SCF

What was that about? The Baden rivalry between TSG and SCF always has the potential to be a game where emotions are running high, but in Sinheim on this day, this game really was the most emotional of them all. Sejad Salihovic gave TSG the lead through a penalty in the 10th minute, but received a straight red card whilst celebrating. Oliver Sorg brought the guests level only two minutes later, but this was just the prelude to the unforgettable spectacle to come. TSG regained the lead through a Kevin Volland (25’) wonder-goal which left Oliver Baumann, who was then a SCF player, with no chance. Yet again, SCF equalised minutes later thanks to Karim Guede’s goal to make it 2-2. It was hectic shortly before the break, as Francis Coquelin received a second yellow with three minutes left in the first-half. Consequently, Freiburg manager Christian Streich was visibly furious with the decision – and was promptly sent off to the stands. SCF then took the lead for the first time in the 65th minute when Sebastian Freis scored, but the 77th minute saw Tobias Strobl score his first Bundesliga goal to make it 3-3. The end of the game was unbelievable, as Modeste’s 90th minute shot hit the post, and Admir Mehmedi was sent off for the guests. FAZ described the game as “a Hollywood match” and the Heilbronner Stimme called it “madness”.

2013/2014 – Matchday 9 – TSG 1-2 B04

It’s a game no TSG fan will ever forget, nor any Leverkusen fan. In fact, it’s not a game any football fan would forget. Particularly in the 70th minute, when Stefan Kießling leapt for a header in the TSG area, but the ball misses everyone yet somehow ends up in the back of the goal, thanks to a hole in the net. Referee Dr. Felix Brych gives the goal, and it’s 2-0. Both sides were astonished with the decision. Sven Schipplock’s 87th minute goal gave TSG one back, after Roberto Firmino’s hit Leno from the penalty spot and then hit the post. What happened after the match was epic as well, as TSG appealed the decision, thereby opening a DFB inquiry. However, the ruling was that it was a ‘factual decision’, meaning the goal and therefore the result stood. A crazy addition to Hoffenheim’s history books.

2013/2014 – Matchday 23 – TSG 6-2 VFL 

Roberto Firmino made it 1-0, and Bas Dost equalised, before the madness before the break began. Süle, Modeste, Modeste, in minutes 37, 39 and 43. 4-1 at the half. The ‘wolves’ had had their teeth blunted. Coming out of the dressing room, the guests shortened the lead to 4-2, but Salihovic and Schipplock answered back, as the goals for the home-side amounted to six, which was the highest home victory in club history. To this day, nobody has scored more goals in a game in the Bundesliga.

2014/2015 – Matchday 21 – TSG 2-1 VFB

VfB came to Hoffenheim for the derby. It was a close game, and a well fought one. A game in which the deciding moment came very late on, as Sebastian Rudy delivered the winning goal in stoppage time. It was pure ecstasy in the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena, with the audience going mad, and the team joining them. Former TSG manager Markus Gisdol sprinted in celebration down the sideline and threw himself onto a bundle of players. Unbelievable scenes and uncurbed emotions: A derby win.

2015/2016 – Matchday 2 – TSG 1-2 FCB

Kevin Volland made Bundesliga history in this game: Bayern kick-off, careless back-pass from Alaba, intercepted by Volland, who rounds Manuel Neuer and scores. Nine seconds of the match were played, making it the fastest goal to be scored in league history. Drama ensued, as Thomas Müller equalised before the break, but ‘Hoffe’ believed in themselves and ‘Hoffe’ had the best chance. Jerome Boateng received his first yellow in the 71st minute, and then another two minutes later due to a penalty area handball, meaning that was all we would see of him in the match. Eugen Polanski stepped up – his strike hits the post. Unbelievable. Centimetres between jubilation and devastation. Following that, Robert Lewandowski scored the winner in stoppage time for the guests from Münich, which was hard to believe after an almost perfect performance.

2015/2016 – Matchday 32 – TSG 2-1 FCI

TSG were in the midst of a relegation battle, but were resurgent under Julian Nagelsmann. Then Ingolstadt turned up at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Stefan Lex gave the guests the lead after 17 minutes played, and it was a goal that sucked the air out of the stadium. However, TSG pulled themselves together. Mark Uth responded to make it 1-1 in the 37th minute, giving Hoffenheim a glimmer of hope. In the 61st minute Nadiem Amiri was brought on, and it proved to be an excellent substitution when he scored with six minutes left to go, and TSG saw out the win. It was a very important victory, which hung by a thread. Andrej Kramaric failed to convert a penalty just before half-time, but it didn’t matter in the end as TSG took a huge step towards avoiding relegation, although they lost the following week in Hannover. But still, it was a win that meant they would stay up.

2016/2017 – Matchday 13 – TSG 4-0 KOE

TSG were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal only weeks before in a dramatic second round matchup against Köln. This time, the match featured beautiful football, an offside goal, and no 122nd minute equaliser. Julian Nagelsmann and his team had a score to settle, and settle it they did indeed, with their best home win under Nagelsmann. Köln had the best defence in the league until they were dispatched 4-0 thanks to a Sandro Wagner brace, and goals from Jeremy Toljan and Mark Uth too. “We dominated the game and most importantly played great football after half-time. Therefore we earned the three points today,” said the goalscorer Uth after the game.

2016/2017 – Matchday 27 – TSG 1-0 FCB

It was one of those days. Niklas Süle was praised before the game for playing his 100th Bundesliga game for TSG a week prior against Hertha BSC. Oliver Baumann was about to play his 100th, and Jeremy Toljan his 50th. And it was also Hoffenheim’s 150th Bundesliga game at home. Everything aligned- somehow. Bayern arrived. It was first versus third. And what do TSG go and do? They defeat the record champions, for their first time in the Bundesliga! As previously stated, everything simply came together. The man of the hour was Andrej Kramaric, whose 21st minute hammer of a volley was the sole goal on the evening. TSG performed exceptionally in the first-half, sometimes toying with their opponents who could do nothing but chase the ball. The score could have easily been 2-0 or 3-0, but ultimately Hoffenheim were successful with the help of Oliver Baumann, a lot of determination, and a bit of luck.