FIRST TEAM
02/18/2021

TSG miss out on win against Molde

TSG Hoffenheim put themselves in a good position but missed out on the win as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Molde FK in the UEFA Europa League last 32 first leg. Munas Dabbur (two) and Christoph Baumgartner got the goals for TSG. But despite having many chances, the Kraichgau club could not kill off the game and Molde came back from 3-1 down in the second half. Due to coronavirus restrictions in Norway, the game did not take place in Molde but in the Spanish city of Vila-real instead.

Personnel & tactics:

Head coach Sebastian Hoeness made three changes to the starting XI that drew 3-3 with Borussia Dortmund. Kasim Adams and Chris Richards returned to the starting XI and played alongside Kevin Vogt in a back three protecting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Mijat Gaćinović, who replaced Pavel Kadeřábek, and Marco John occupied the wide berths. The midfield trio of Sebastian Rudy, Diadie Samassékou and Christoph Baumgartner remained unchanged, as did the strike partnership of Ihlas Bebou and Munas Dabbur.

TSG were forced into making their first change after 26 minutes, Pavel Kadeřábek coming on for the injured Gaćinović. Sebastian Hoeness made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, with Sargis Adamyan and Florian Grillitsch replacing Bebou and Samassékou in like-for-like changes. Georginio Rutter came on in place of Dabbur to make his TSG debut in the 83rd minute, at which point Melayro Bogarde replaced Adams too.

Moment of the match:

The 63rd minute: Munas Dabbur had a massive opportunity to make it 4-1 from the penalty spot, but the Israeli was denied by Molde shot-stopper Linde. The Norwegians subsequently came back and scored two goals.

Number of the game: 24

Munas Dabbur's two goals were the 23rd and 24th times he has found the net in the UEFA Europa League. That puts the Israeli in third spot on the list of all-time highest scorers in the competition. Only Aritz Aduriz (26) and Radamel Falcao (30) have more UEL goals.

Line-ups:

Molde FK: Linde – Pedersen, Bjornbak, Gregersen, Haugen – Bolly (Knudtzon, 64), Asurnes, Ellingsen – Wolff Eikrem, Sigurdarsson (Fofana, 66), Ulland Andersen (Christensen, 86)

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Adams (Bogarde, 83), Vogt, Richards – Gaćinović (Kadeřábek, 26), Rudy, Samassékou (Grillitsch, 62), John – Baumgartner – Bebou (Adamyan, 62), Dabbur (Rutter, 83)

Goals: 0-1 Dabbur (8), 0-2 Dabbur (28), 1-2 Ellingsen (41), 1-3 Baumgartner (45+3), 2-3 Andersen (70), 3-3 Fofana (74)

Incidents of note: Linde saves Dabbur penalty (63)

Match highlights

2. Min.

The first shot comes early on in the game: John crosses into the middle from the left and Bebou shoots, but Molde keeper Linde makes the save and then denies Dabbur's follow-up.

6. Min.

Another good attack from TSG: Baumgartner threads the ball through to Bebou, who makes the most of his pace and gets a shot away in the box. But Haugen blocks the striker's effort at the last second.

8. Min.

Bebou switches the play over to the right of the penalty area, where Gaćinović meets it with a header towards the back post. Dabbur surfaces unmarked and heads home. The goal is initially disallowed, only for VAR to intervene and declare it should stand. There was no offside.

28. Min.

Kadeřábek sets up the second goal with his first involvement. He delivers a pinpoint cross towards Dabbur, who heads the ball into the far corner.

35. Min.

TSG counter following a Molde corner-kick: Bebou latches onto a through-pass and carries the ball 60 metres towards goal. The TSG forward holds off Pedersen but has his shot kept out by Linde.

39. Min.

Firstly, the unmarked Bebou fails to make it 3-0 after not making proper contact with the ball. Then Adams has a shot following another corner-kick, only for Molde to make a goal-line clearance.

41. Min.

Molde pull a goal back out of nothing. A header is blocked after a corner but the rebound falls to Ellingsen, who fires into the roof of the net with his left foot.

45 + 3. Min.

Dabbur plays in Baumgartner, who keeps his cool in front of Linde and sidefoots into the far corner. 3-1 to TSG.

57. Min.

Kadeřábek delivers another good cross. Baumgartner gets to the ball but Linde makes the stop from close range.

63. Min.

Dabbur takes a penalty awarded for a foul on Sargis Adamyan and aims for the bottom corner. The shot is powerful and well-placed but Linde gets down to his right and makes a great save.

70. Min.

Andersen is completely unmarked in the middle and heads a cross from the right into the far corner to make it 3-2.

74. Min.

Baumann initially makes a sensational intervention to deny Wolff Eikrem, but Molde keep the move alive and Fofana pops up at the back post to make it 3-3.

80. Min.

Baumgartner meets a Rudy cross with a perfect header towards the far corner, but Linde makes another top save to stop Hoffenheim re-taking the lead.

Match facts and statistics »

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