First win in first friendly as TSG defeat Freiberg

TSG started on the offensive and took an early lead: Muhammed Damar scored a spectacular goal from 18 metres out, the first of preseason. Just a few minutes later, the player on loan from Elversberg had another great chance, but his lob hit the crossbar. After a fast-paced opening phase with further chances, the game flattened out, but TSG initially managed to prevent Freiberg from launching any counterattacks.

However, Freiberg also took advantage of their first chance of the game when they played their way through the Hoffenheim defence after a quickly taken throw-in and two players found themselves clean through against Luca Philipp – the TSG keeper was left with no chance to save Armin Sivic's equaliser.

Christian Ilzer made a complete change at the break, but the team didn't need long to get going in the second half either: Gift Orban scored with a spectacular long-range shot (49). Orban was also involved in the next goal when he played in David Mokwa perfectly, allowing the Frenchman to slot home with ease (63').

Freiberg were awarded a penalty shortly before the end, which Diamant Lokaj scored (88).

Head coach Christian Ilzer said after the game: "We started very well, and the game gave us some good pointers for what we need to do next. We saw things that we will work on in the coming weeks."

Goalscorer Damar agreed: "It was a decent test, but we should have sealed the deal much earlier."

The TSG were still missing their international players in Mühlhausen, who will not return to training until Monday. Grischa Prömel and Ihlas Bebou were also unavailable. Arthur Chaves, Stanley Nsoki and Dennis Geiger were carrying light injuries and did not feature. The next friendly is scheduled for Wednesday (16 July, 18:00 CEST), when TSG will play away to Sportfreunde Lauffen.

TSG Hoffenheim, first half: Philipp – Gendrey, Drexler, Akpoguma, Bernardo – Avdullahu, Stach – Damar, Bülter – Tabaković, Lemperle

TSG Hoffenheim, second half: Petersson – Đurić, Hranáč, Frees, Behrens – Becker, Tohumcu – Mokwa, Prass – Yardimci (71, Zeitler), Orban

Goals: 1-0 Damar (3), 1-1 Sivic (39), 2-1 Orban (49), 3-1 Mokwa (63), 3-2 Lokaj (88/penalty)

Match facts and statistics »