SV Werder Bremen came back from 3-0 down to earn a 4-3 victory away at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday evening (29th September). Despite conceding three times inside the opening 13 minutes (Bülter 5’/8’, Hlozek 13’), a red card for TSG’s Stanley Nsoki (18') played a key part in changing the course of the match. Julián Malatini was able to get a goal back for the Green-Whites (21’), before a hat-trick from Jens Stage (26’, 39’, 49’) ensured SVW would be taking all three points home with them.
Line-up and formation: Milos Veljkovic remained sidelined with a foot problem, while Justin Njinmah missed out with an ankle ligament injury. Captain Marco Friedl was also absent due to serving the final match of his two-game ban after being sent off against Mainz. Instead, new signing Derrick Köhn made his first start in the Bundesliga, with Julian Malatini included in a starting line-up for the first time since matchday 22 of last season.
Werder’s starting line-up: Zetterer - Jung, Stark, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Lynen, Köhn, Schmid, Malatini, Agu
Bench: Backhaus - Deman, Pieper, Bittencourt, Burke, Grüll, Hansen-Aarøen, Alvero, Topp
First-half highlights:
5th minute: Hoffenheim score with their first shot on target. Mergim Berisha picks out Marius Bülter, with the striker slotting the ball past Zetterer.
8th minute: TSG double their lead, with Bülter on the scoresheet once again. He breaks past Anthony Jung and places the ball in at the far post.
12th minute: From bad to worse for the Green-Whites. Zetterer is able to parry a shot from Bülter, but it pinballs around inside the area as Adam Hlozek is able to finish it.
17th minute: A free-kick from TSG’s Alexander Prass only narrowly misses the target.
18th minute: Felix Agu looks to be through on goal after a well-timed pass from Weiser. Stanley Nsoki is the last man back for TSG and fouls Agu on the way through, causing the referee to show him a straight red card.
21st minute: Werder get one back through Malatini! The defender is able to somehow poke the ball over the line following a corner.
26th minute: Weiser comes close to getting his name on the scoresheet, but Oliver Baumann is able to push his long-range effort away from the target.
27th minute: Another goal back for the visitors! Marvin Ducksch delivers a cross from the right side and finds Jens Stage in the centre of the box, as he heads home to make it 3-2.
37th minute: The ball makes its way to Derrick Köhn, who uses his pace to beat Baumann to the ball. The goalkeeper is able to stand tall and deny our new signing from finding the back of the net.
39th minute: From 3-0 down to 3-3! After a good bit of play, Agu is able to carry the ball forward. His deflected effort lands at Stage’s feet, who slots home his second of the evening.
Second-half highlights:
48th minute: The first shot of the second half belongs to the visitors, as Kaderabek’s effort is saved by Zetterer.
49th minute: Unbelievable! Werder take a 4-3 lead in Sinsheim. Weiser finds himself unmarked on the left side of the area and delivers a cross into the box, where Stage is waiting to complete his hat-trick!
53rd minute: A cross into the box falls to Köhn, as he is able to control it and place it in the back of the net. It won’t count, however, as the lineman’s flag is up.
60th minute: Werder work the ball into Hoffenheim’s box, with Ducksch directing a shot towards the near post. His effort lands in the side netting, however.
68th minute: A nervy moment for the Green-Whites, as Hoffenheim manage to get the ball forward with only Zetterer left to beat. Malatini is able to poke the ball away from the onrushing attacker in the nick of time.
80th minute: Hoffenheim continue to throw everything they have into attack, as Zetterer fumbles a shot from Bruun Larsen. Just as it looks to be rolling into the back of the net, Malatini comes sliding in with a crucial goal line clearance.
90th minute + 6: So close to a fifth! Grüll is through on goal with only Baumann to beat, but his shot is too central and is blocked by the goalkeeper. Weiser’s rebound is also saved.
90th minute +8: Full time! Werder come back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 thanks to a hat-trick from Jens Stage.
Summary: A dreadful start to the match saw Werder trail 3-0 inside the opening 13 minutes, before the Green-Whites were able to fight their way back. Malatini scored to get one back (21’), before Jens Stage’s hat-trick helped complete a historic comeback. A red card to Hoffenheim’s Stanley Nsoki in the 18th minute played a key part in shifting the momentum of the match from the hosts to Ole Werner’s side.
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann - Akpoguma, Grillitsch (46’ Stach), Nsoki - Kaderabek (76’ Bruun Larsen), Bischof, Tohumcu, Prass (46’ Gendrey) - Hlozek, Bülter (69’ Moerstedt) - Berisha (27’ Drexler)
SV Werder Bremen: Zetterer - Malatini, Stark (58’ Pieper), Jung - Agu, Stage, Lynen (76’ Alvero), Köhn (76’ Deman) - Weiser, Schmid (76’ Topp) - Ducksch (88’ Grüll)
Goals: 1-0 Bülter (5’), 2-0 Bülter (8’), 3-0 Hlozek (12’), 3-1 Malatini (21’), 3-2 Stage (26’), 3-3 Stage (39’), 3-4 Stage (49’)
Red card: Nsoki (professional foul)
Referee: Tobias Reichel
Spectators : 26,018
