Late defeat against Union

TSG Hoffenheim have lost 1-0 (0-0) to 1. FC Union Berlin. The first period ended goalless, but both Stanley Nsoki (45+4) and Kevin Volland (45+6) were dismissed from the field of play for committing a second bookable offence. TSG dominated the proceedings in the second half, but conceded the decisive goal through Brenden Aaronson in the 84th minute.

Personnel matters

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made two changes to the starting line-up that drew 1-1 against 1. FC Köln. Anton Stach and Andrej Kramarić started in place of Robert Skov and Wout Weghorst.

The scenario

TSG went into the match in ninth place in the table and with 27 points on the board. 1. FC Union were in 15th position with 21 points.

Moment of the match

The 84th minute: Union Berlin appeared completely toothless in the second half and then struck decisively shortly before the full-time whistle. Yorbe Vertessen was threaded through and cut the ball back in the box to Brenden Aaronsen, who scored the only goal of the day.

Number of the game: 13

In 13 consecutive Bundesliga home games in a row, both TSG Hoffenheim and their opponents have scored at least one goal. That run ended against Union Berlin.

Emotional encounter

Stanley Nsoki and Kevin Volland got involved in a fracas at the beginning of first-half stoppage time. Both were initially shown the yellow card and were on the verge of a red card before Nsoki was first dismissed for a second bookable offence following the next challenge (45+4) and Volland was subsequently given his marching orders for a tactical foul on Kramarić (45+6). Both teams were then down to 10 men.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim will be away to Borussia Dortmund next week. Kick-off in that match is at 17:30 CET on Sunday.

Stats

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kadeřábek (Jurásek, 90+1), Ozan Kabak, Grillitsch, Nsoki – Stach, Prömel (Weghorst, 29), Tohumcu (Skov, 46) – Kramarić, Beier – Bebou (Conté, 81)

Union Berlin: Rönnow – Doekhi, Vogt, Diogo Leite – Trimmel (Juranovic, 81), Khedira (Kral, 6), Gosens (Roussillon, 81) – Laidouni (Aaronson, 66), Tousart – Volland, Hollerbach (Vertessen, 66)

Goals: 0-1 Aaronson (84)

Red cards: Nsoki (45+4), Volland (45+6)

Match highlights

2. Min.

Double opportunity for Bebou

That should’ve been the opener: Stach goes through down the right and cuts back to Bebou, who is denied by Rönnow. But TSG keep the move alive and the follow-up also falls to Bebou, only for the striker to hit the post.

18. Min.

Hollerbach hits the post

A chance of out nothing for Union: Volland plays it through to Hollerbach, who is clean through on Baumann and beats the TSG goalkeeper, only to strike the upright. Luck for Hoffenheim.

54. Min.

Stach from range

Kadeřábek takes a quick throw-in from the right to Stach, who has some space in the middle and shoots left-footed from the edge of the box, but Rönnow gets down to his near post and clears.

73. Min.

Beier narrowly wide

Beier somehow stays on the ball following a pass from Weghorst and gets the better of two defenders, but the left-footed shot flies narrowly wide of the woodwork and strikes the side-netting.

84. Min.

Union lead

Union score out of nothing: a long ball to Vertessen is enough to beat the defence. The striker cuts into the penalty area and tees up Aaronson, who then slots inside the near post.