TSG Hoffenheim are through to the last 16 of the DFB Cup. The Kraichgauer won their second-round match against a defensively completely overmatched Holstein Kiel 5:1 – even though they didn’t score their first two goals themselves.
It took Marcel Rapp less than four weeks to return to Sinsheim. In Kraichgau, where the Kiel coach had worked for almost nine years before his move to the north, he almost had a dream start, but after less than 30 seconds Bartels missed a good chance for the second-division club.
Instead of Kiel, however, TSG were ahead early on: Rutter duped Neumann on the left side of the penalty area with a tunnel and then looked for Kramaric, who was ready to shoot, at the second post. Van den Bergh tried to repair what could not be repaired – own goal, 1:0 for Hoffenheim (3.). A little later Neumann almost scored the next own goal, the right-back shot a Rutter input just over his own crossbar (7.).
Curious choice: Kiel scores their second own goal
The Frenchman, who was very agile, especially in the early stages, was one of five players that TSG coach Sebastian Hoeneß had reordered into Hoffenheim’s starting eleven after the 4-0 defeat at FC Bayern. Vogt, Stiller, Rudy and Dabbur also played from the start, while Grillitsch, Geiger, Samassekou, Bruun Larsen and Bebou had to sit on the bench. In the 3-4-1-2 Hoffenheim showed themselves very playful, especially Rutter acted omnipresent and permanently moved to one of the two wings. Dabbur with a header (14th) and Kramaric with a free kick (29th) had further chances.
However, the second-division team from the north was by no means without a chance, as Hoffenheim repeatedly allowed the Kielers plenty of space and switching situations. Almost without exception, however, KSV did not play these cleverly enough. Coach Rapp had brought in van den Bergh, Lorenz and Holtby for Kirkeskov, Thesker and Porath after the 1:1 against Darmstadt 98, and Gelios was between the posts instead of Dähne. The Kiel keeper was beaten for the second time after just over half an hour – the second time by a teammate: Dabbur had his back to goal after Akpoguma’s cross at the five-yard line, Wahl rushed in and very unfortunately poked the ball into his own goal (31st).
Kiel almost responded immediately, but Lorenz’s header from Mühling’s corner flew just wide of the far corner (34th), and before the break Erras also missed a good chance to head home (45.+1). In the meantime, Kiel could also thank goalkeeper Gelios for not being behind earlier. The keeper made two great saves against Dabbur (43rd, 44th).
Neumann cuts the deficit – but then Hoffenheim pulls away
So Hoffenheim were not through yet – and Kiel were briefly back in the game shortly after the restart at the latest: After a short corner, Holtby passed to Neumann, who beat Baumann at the second attempt with a powerful shot into the short corner (47th). Shortly afterwards, Bartels even sniffed at an equaliser with a long-range shot (51.), but overall Kiel acted defensively far too susceptibly for a cup surprise. Hoffenheim was constantly put in position by Kiel’s ball losses and had chances every minute. Dabbur in particular was extremely unlucky in his finishing and missed two more top chances (53rd, 54th), Rudy also did not aim accurately enough (52nd).
It took a long shot from Stiller, which Gelios was not able to deflect into the short corner, for Hoffenheim to pull back to a two-goal lead (59.). KSV did not recover from this setback, and the home side continued to create top chances far too easily. Kramaric missed one of them miserably (60th), before Dabbur scored after an interplay with Skov and made it 4:1 (72nd).
Kiel defensively miserable: Bruun Larsen scores for the final score
While Kiel also had a hundred percent chance through Pichler and Mees (76.), defensively it was simply not up to scratch at all. Last and clearest example: After Hoffenheim’s own corner, there was no remaining defence after the free kick, so that substitute Bruun Larsen was able to run out of his own half (!) towards Gelios and beat the unfortunate goalkeeper with a duper for the final score (84th).
The Kraichgauer are now through to the last 16 of the DFB Cup, which will be drawn on Sunday. By then, both teams will have already played their league games: Hoffenheim play Hertha BSC on Friday (8.30 pm), Kiel play HSV 24 hours later.
