The TSG Hoffenheim concedes another avoidable defeat due to its own inadequacies – and thus once again misses the chance to establish itself in the targeted table regions.
Kevin Vogt had imagined his return to his home club differently. “It was a classic game where the team that scores the first goal wins,” analysed the former Bochum man. That was not Ihlas Bebou, who had the possibly groundbreaking 1:0 for the visitors on his foot, but lofted the ball over Bochum’s keeper Riemann, but also over the goal (19th). When VfL took the lead, it was Vogt, of all people, who was involved in the creation of the goal. An unclear situation.
At first, the goal did not seem to count because Soma Novothny had been offside and the assistant’s flag was up. Vogt had cleared the cross to the outside and Novothny headed in the next cross in accordance with the rules. Only on the basis of the TV pictures did referee Frank Willenborg award the goal because Novothny had not actively intervened in the scene in question. “From my point of view, the goal should not count because the Bochum player was standing directly behind me,” explained Vogt, “I would not have gone for the ball if there was no opponent behind me.” The decision, however, is in accordance with the rules.
Too many wrong decisions made
But the veteran identified the real cause of the defeat elsewhere. “But we lost because we did things wrong. We were also not mature enough,” said Vogt, “not everything was bad, but we made too many wrong decisions.” Especially in the now crucial last third of the pitch. “Unfortunately, we didn’t play some counterattacks well and missed many opportunities. In the second half, too, we had the game under control from my point of view, but we still concede the 0:1. That can’t happen to us,” coach Sebastian Hoeneß was angry, “we played our situations very inaccurately and sloppily, so we don’t get many finishes. That really annoys me. That was negligent on our part.”
So Hoeneß is still waiting for his first win against a promoted team after his fifth attempt as a first division coach, with three draws and now two defeats to his name so far. And Hoffenheim once again missed the chance to establish themselves in the targeted regions of the table.
Skov injured
To make matters worse, Robert Skov also injured his right rear thigh and had to be substituted in the 60th minute The 25-year-old has to cancel his trip to the Danish national team, a longer break looms. It was the first nomination for him since the European Championship. Denmark will play the Faroe Islands and Scotland in the final games of the World Cup qualifiers, and are already qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the established winners of Group F alongside Germany and the host nation.