Fanshop
TSG win exhilarating encounter in Berlin
Personnel & tactics:
Head coach Alfred Schreuder made three changes to the starting XI that beat FC Schalke 04 2-0. Oliver Baumann started between the sticks, while Kevin Vogt dropped back from defensive midfield to form a back three alongside Kevin Akpoguma and Benjamin Hübner. Pavel Kadeřábek and Robert Skov began in the wing-back berths.
Florian Grillitsch, who missed the Schalke match with a knock, returned to the starting XI and played alongside Lukas Rupp, who replaced Dennis Geiger, and Sebastian Rudy in central midfield. Jürgen Locadia, meanwhile, came in for Sargis Adamyan to make his first start for the Kraichgau club. The Dutchman partnered Andrej Kramarić in attack.
There was a double substitution for TSG Hoffenheim on the hour-mark, with Ermin Bičakčić and Ihlas Bebou replacing Vogt and Locadia in like-for-like changes. Once the hosts had fought back to 2-2, Schreuder shifted the focus to attack by introducing Adamyan for Rupp (72).
Moment of the match:
The winning goal: TSG spurned several chances from close range following a free-kick, but Benjamin Hübner rose the highest to head home the resultant corner.
Number of the game: 1
Jürgen Locadia scored his first goal for TSG Hoffenheim on his first Bundesliga start for the club.
Line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Jarstein – Klünter, Rekik, Boyata (Kalou, 64), Plattenhardt – Skjelbred, Darida – Wolf, Grujic (Duda, 46), Lukebakio – Ibišević (Selke, 82)
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma, Vogt (Bičakčić, 60), Hübner – Kadeřábek, Grillitsch, Rudy, Rupp (Adamyan, 72), Skov – Kramarić, Locadia (Bebou, 60)
Goals: 0-1 Locadia (33), 0-2 Kramarić (38), 1-2 Lukebakio (54), 2-2 Kalou (69), 2-3 Hübner (79)
Match highlights
Wolf's cross from the right is perfectly timed. Ibisevic gets ahead of his marker and shoots but his attempt rebounds off the post. TSG were lucky there.
A free-kick into the box is headed goalbound by Kramaric, but unfortunately it goes narrowly wide of the mark.
Kramaric turns on the afterburners and receives the ball in space, but his effort from the edge of the box is saved by Jarstein. That was TSG's best chance yet.
Big chance for Locadia minutes later. He skips past Boyata but his shot lacks accuracy and Jarstein comfortably manages to thwart the danger.
Grillitsch is allowed to carry the ball 50 metres unchallenged. His pass towards Locadia is actually slightly overhit but the striker controls the ball brilliantly and then fires a perfect low shot into the bottom corner.
It's two against two as TSG counter-attack with Kramaric and Locadia, but the Croat goes for goal himself and is denied by Jarstein. Almost 2-0.
Skov delivers the resultant corner into the centre, where the unmarked Kramaric is left with the simple task of nodding home from close range. TSG are 2-0 in front.
There's a stroke of good fortune for TSG before the break as Grujic's spectacular effort from long range comes back off the post. Nothing Baumann could do.
Hoffenheim make a flying start to the second half when Kramaric plays Rupp clean through on Jarstein. But his touch is heavy as he tries to round the goalie.
A long throw-in is headed into the danger zone by Wolf and Lukebakio reacts with an instinctive bicycle kick into the top corner. Baumann had no chance.
Well, it was coming... Darida's cross is blocked and the loose ball falls to Kalou. Baumann gets a hand to the striker's effort but can't stop it from going in.
What drama! TSG fail with three attempts to get the ball over the line from close range, but Rudy's brilliant corner is then headed perfectly into the corner by Hübner. Back in front!
The visitors give the ball away and Lukebakio almost capitalises, but Baumann narrows the angle and saves it, with Bicakcic scrambling away the follow-up.
Match facts and statistics »
