Hardest of tests passed against Hoffenheim

Werder win hard-fought battle in Friday night's fixture

Füllkrug und Co. battle intensely for the three points (Photo: nordphoto).
Match Report
Friday, 07.10.2022 / 22:41

That was some hard work! SV Werder overcome a strong Hoffenheim side and take three important points away from their clash in Sinsheim. Although the hosts started the game the stronger of the two sides, the Green-Whites did not get fazed and took the lead themselves through Marvin Ducksch (18’). In an even half, TSG were rewarded through Munas Dabbur (32’). After the change of ends, the game became relentless and for a long time it looked as if the points would be shared. Niklas Füllkrug, however, was on hand to score the match-winner for SVW with a penalty in the 87th minute and seal another three points for SVW.

Squad and formation: Head coach Ole Werner stuck to his winning formula by selecting the same team that dominated Gladbach. There were two changes on the bench, however, as Eren Dinkci and Nicolai Rapp were forced out due to injury. They were replaced by Benjamin Goller and Amos Pieper who had missed the last game through suspension.

Starting eleven: Pavlenka - Jung, Stark, Ducksch, Weiser, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Schmid, Gruev, Friedl und Groß.

Bench: Zetterer - Pieper, Stage, Burke, Bittencourt,Schmidt, Goller, Buchanan und Agu.

An intense and equal first half

Highlights from the first half:

2nd minute: Robert Skov attacks down the right before cutting into the centre and shooting from 18 meters out. The shot goes narrowly wide of the left post.

4th minute: Robert Skov comes again. He picks the ball up and shoots from the right hand side of the penalty area. The ball, yet again, goes narrowly wide.

12th minute: Quick passing between Jose Angel Esmoris Tasende and Munas Dabbur is the story of the game. Hoffenheim’s number 11 is giving the game lots of pace and wants the ball the back to him in front of goal. Friedl throws himself at the ball and manages to clear it just in time.

18th minute: GOOOAL for Werder: The hammer – Schmid plays a long pass to Ducksch on the left hand side, who himself plays a one-two with Füllkrug. Werder’s number 7 shoots from the edge of penalty area and finds the bottom corner perfectly! 1-0 Werder.

23rd minute: After a strong opening period for Hoffenheim, SVW are now the better side, but the home side are still pressing hard. Skov whips in a shot from the left with the aim of finding the net, but Veljkovic makes the block.

28th minute: Stark misjudges and challenges Munas Dabbur too late. Dabbur is able to get through on goal and lays it off to Andrej Kramaric. Pavlenka rushes out from his area to throw himself at the ball and snatches it from Kramaric’s feet. In retrospect, however, it would have been offside anyway.

32nd minute: Goal for Hoffenheim: Hoffenheim quickly turn the game around. Geiger waltzes through the midfield before playing a through ball to Dabbur, who sprints through on goal one-on-one with Pavlenka. He expertly dinks the ball past him. 1-1.

34th minute: Hoffenheim play a dangerous long ball into Christoph Baumgartner. Baumgartner smashes it against the post and the ball runs along the line away from danger. That was extremely close – fortunately, the offside flag was up anyway.

36th minute: Now, it’s Füllkrug’s time down the other end. Just outside of the box, he takes aim and shoots. Baumann parries the ball away.

38th minute: Free kick for Werder. The long ball into the six-yard box lands in Veljkovic’s direction. His header on goal hits Füllkrug by surprise and he is unable to control it. The ball is cleared away from danger.

Füllkrug seals the win with a late penalty

Highlights from the second half:

49th minute: Already in the first few minutes of the second half, Werder create a chance. Jung and Füllkrug play a one-two. Jung tries to unleash Werder’s number 11, however Baumann is able to pick to intercept the inaccurate pass.

52nd minute: Dabbur wants to play Baumgartner in through the middle after dribbling down the right wing. Baumgartner, however, can only find the side netting.

54th minute: A long pass gets in behind Werder’s back line. Christoph Baumgartner sprints into the box from the left flank and pulls the trigger. He can’t find a way past Pavlenka. It’s fortunate for Werder that he didn’t see Dabbur open in the middle of the box.

60th minute: A long ball to Dabbur is then played to Kramaric since he can’t find a way past Friedl. His shot is deflected out of bounds. The linesman’s flag was raised for offside anyway.

65th minute: Skov crosses the ball into the centre towards Grischa Prömel, who heads on target. Pavlenka is in the right place at the right time again. He is able to parry the ball away from danger.

69th minute: Weiser collects the ball in the centre of the box from a great ball across from Füllkrug. He has all the time in the world, but he doesn’t take his time. He can’t find enough power behind his shot.

72nd minute: The game is growing in intensity and more interruptions are disrupting the flow of the game. Vogt catches Bittencourt late – the resulting free kick dangerously runs across the face of the TSG box. The clearance is skewed and falls to Bittencourt, who cannot finish.

74th minute: A long ball is played into Angelino. He plays it forward quickly, passing to Georginio Rutter in the box. Veljkovic makes a very important block! He then steals the ball from Rutter who would have been through one-on-one with Pavlenka.

80th minute: Werder now come forward with a fast counter attack. Weiser charges through midfield and he plays Ducksch into a very dangerous position. Vogt flings himself in front of the shot, deflecting it out for a corner.

84th minute: Weiser sprints into the penalty area and is tripped up by Stanley Nsoki. The referee initially waves the play away, but decides to take a look at the VAR monitor. He decides to award the penalty!

87th minute: GOAL for Werder! Niklas Füllkrug steps up and sinks the penalty! 2-1!

90+3rd minute: Georginio Rutter beats Marco Friedl to the byline and crosses to Prömel in the box. But the Werder defensive line throws every part of their bodies at the ball and manage to scramble to ball clear!

90+7th minute: Full time!

Summary: Both sides gave everything and threw themselves at everything, and yet it was Werder who walked off the pitch with the three points. For a long time, it looked as if the points would be shared, particularly after the second half became increasingly restless. The game became far more hectic after the change of ends. However, the Green-Whites maintained their fighting spirit until the final moments and shortly before the final whistle, Niklas Füllkrug’s penalty sealed the all important three points!

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