Match winner with "right nose": Union stops Hoffenheim
Created: 01/15/2022Updated: 01/15/2022 18:34
Christoph Baumgartner from TSG Hoffenheim fights for the ball with Berlin's Andreas Voglsammer (r). © Andreas Gora/dpa
Union shows how it's done: The Berliners defeat TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, who had previously been unbeaten seven times.
As?
With iron "solidarity" as well as thanks to a clever coaching decision and a new goalscorer.
Berlin – After the long-unknown feeling of defeat, the pros at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim quickly disappeared into the dressing room.
The conquerors from 1. FC Union Berlin, on the other hand, enjoyed the cheering of the 3,000 fans allowed in the An der Alten Försterei stadium right at the start of the new year.
"The most important thing is that we won and are still a home force," stressed Grischa Prömel after the 2-1 (1-1) win against Kraichgau on Saturday.
A week after his debut brace to make it 2-2 at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Prömel became the match winner this time when he made the decision in the 73rd minute that put the Union level on points (31) with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
“I just got the right instinct.
I'm just getting rid of things," said Prömel.
Previously, Andreas Voglsammer (22nd) equalized the TSG lead with an own goal from Timo Baumgartl (16th).
The guests' winning streak ended after seven games.
"We have to take a good look at ourselves," said TSG coach Sebastian Hoeneß and praised the performance of the Berliners: "It's just a team that has its qualities of staying stable.
Nobody really likes to come here.”
With the win, the Unioners also got the final boost for the capital derby next Wednesday in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup at the still weakening Hertha.
The fact that the Irons lost only one of the last 26 Bundesliga games in their cult stadium in Köpenick - 2:5 against FC Bayern on the 10th matchday - they owed to TSG in addition to goal scorer Prömel and substitute Sheraldo Becker.
It was he who provided bite in the Berlin attack after being brought in in the 65th minute.
"Defending your speed isn't easy," said coach Urs Fischer.
Becker prepared the decisive goal together with Max Kruse, who in turn had also been involved in equalizing after the tabular duel of the pursuers had started rather cautiously.
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After a total of five changes, the Union team initially looked for security, Hoffenheim for their part hardly allowed anything and took the lead through Baumgartl's own goal in his 100th Bundesliga game.
This was preceded by a strong action by Hoffenheim's right winger Ihlas Bebou.
The usual aggressiveness in the Union game was not to be seen, but the balance was quickly achieved.
The ball landed at the very enthusiastic Voglsammer via Bastian Oczipka, who was also new to the team, and Union's creative footballing spirit Kruse.
His header bounced off the crossbar against keeper Oliver Baumann.
Even without the actual goalgetter Taiwo Awoniyi, who plays at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Irons scored.
It was also emblematic of what Fischer had said in the days before about the departure of vice-captain Marvin Friedrich.
They would compensate for the absence with solidarity.
“I think the moments were on our side today.
We needed that," Fischer said after the game.
dpa
