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Hoffenheim started the duel without Andrej Kramaric and some other crown-related failures, the guests missing Captain Christopher Trimmel with muscle problems. The guests had their first good chance after five minutes: Julian Ryerson, who slipped into the starting lineup, narrowly missed a strong cross from the left.
Union with the best start, Awoniyi overcame
Both coaches had tactically sent their teams onto the field with a three-man chain. The guests initially had the advantage, they were close to the back of the center and focused on the counterattack, as did Taiwo Awoniyi, who finished just over the goal after a counterattack (10th).
With the hosts, coach Sebastian Hoeneß relied on a creative midfield. Since there were only three classic defenders on the field, there was room for five midfielders in a row in front of him. Florian Grillitsch, Dennis Geiger and Co. only played this advantage occasionally. After 14 minutes, Munas Dabbur was promisingly unlocked, but his shot was cleared on the line by Robin Knoche.
Posch has to fall injured, Hoffenheim changes
Overall, the Berliners had a slight increase in chances in the first half, the three from Hoffenheim allowed plenty of chances. There were many holes in the home side, especially in the counterattacks. However, the hosts had to go on the defensive for the first time after 34 minutes, Robert Skov replaced the ailing Stefan Posch.
From then on, the local group performed with a four on their backs. The Berliners, however, remained more dangerous: Sebastian Griesbeck headed in on 40 minutes, but Oliver Baumann brilliantly deflected with his foot into the Hoffenheim goal. He was left with a draw at halftime, especially since Andreas Luthe defused a Dabbur header at the Berliner Tor in injury time.
Skov pushes and sees red, Kruse hits
The second race started much more cautiously. But then excitement in the 58th minute: Union Berlin responded again and Sebastian Griesbeck was free. Robert Skov knocked him down with a push, a clear penalty. Referee Robert Hartmann also showed Skov red, although Hoffenheim’s Ryan Sessegnon was in the penalty area. However, Skov had clearly pushed Griesbeck when he had already started the shot and did not attempt to play the ball, which is probably one of the reasons why the video referee did not intervene. Max Kruse converted the penalty due, unimpressed by the emotion, very fresh to 1-0 for the guests (60th).
Hoffenheim’s team changed and brought in two new offensive forces with Christoph Baumgartner and Sargis Adamyan. But in the last third of the match, the home team often made wrong decisions. Once again it became clear how indispensable Andrej Kramaric, who has been absent for weeks, is to TSG.
Dabbur calls, but then comes Pohjanpalo
For a long time, the hosts did not have a significant opportunity, it had to be a single action. And the hitherto hapless Dabbur took care of that in the 80th minute. In the penalty area, the attacker faced two opponents in a tight space and threw the ball over Andreas Luthe in the Berlin home to equalize in goal.
In the final phase, the guests invested more, brought in Joel Pohjanpalo and, with great luck, secured the victory of Berlin. Max Kruse played a strong ball at the far post, Pohjanpalo slid down the middle and shot Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who unfortunately headed the ball to the corner, the 1: 2 (85).
Grillitsch criticized the referee after the match
Shortly after, Pohjanpalo could have closed the bag against Baumann, but only hit the post (88th). Substitute Cedric Teuchert, who, again after Max Kruse’s preparatory work, managed the 3-1 victory in injury time, did better.
After the match, a statement from Hoffenheim’s Florian Grillitsch caused a stir. “I think the only one who did not have Bundesliga level was the referee. That was unfathomable for me.”said the midfielder and was particularly upset about the red card on the penalty. A statement that many could hardly understand given the previous match of referee Robert Hartmann, especially since the red card on the penalty was hard but he complied with the rules.
Union Berlin climbs to seventh place in the table. Hoffenheim, who defeated champions Bayern Munich 4-1 on matchday two, have been waiting for a victory for four league games and are suddenly in crisis. TSG will play in Wolfsburg on Sunday, Union Berlin will host Bielefeld on Saturday.
