TSG Hoffenheim won at SC Freiburg thanks to a late Richards goal. The crux of the matter proved to be a missed penalty by the home side.
Freiburg coach Christian Streich did not make any starting eleven changes after the 6-0 gala in Gladbach and sent the same personnel into the race.
TSG coach Sebastian Hoeneß, meanwhile, made two changes to the starting eleven compared to the 3-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt: Geiger was replaced by Stiller. Kramaric also replaced Rutter on the bench.
Raum’s debut goal – Schlotterbeck assertive
Hoffenheim got off to a better start and took the lead after just three minutes: Dabbur laid off a through ball with the outside of the foot past Kübler into the path of Raum. The left-back entered the penalty area and beat Flekken from an acute angle with a left-footed shot into the far corner – his first Bundesliga goal.
Sport-Club initially struggled to adapt to the visitors’ variable, ball-playing game and eventually fought their way back into the game through a standard: Schlotterbeck shook off Posch after Grifo’s cross and headed in from a central position to make it 1-1 (21st) – it was already the sixth goal from a corner kick for the Breisgau side, who could even have added to their tally four minutes later: After a sprint, Schade found himself in front of Baumann, but failed to beat him from a difficult angle (25.). Schade (39.) and Günter (43.) created further chances for the home side – but after 45 interesting and entertaining minutes, the score went into the break 1-1.
Grifo misses penalty – Richards close to finish
After the break, the game did not quite match the high technical level of the first half, but remained intense. After just under a quarter of an hour, Günter appeared in the Hoffenheim penalty area and was brought down by Akpoguma. Grifo took the penalty kick but failed to hit Baumann, Schade’s follow-up shot missed (61st).
A short time later, the Breisgau side suffered another setback: goal scorer Schlotterbeck had to leave the field injured after a skilful save from Rutter (76). It was the phase in which TSG built up pressure again, mainly initiated by substitute Baumgartner. First the Austrian headed just over the goal (75th), then he tested Flekken from close range (78th) and finally with a powerful shot from the back (79th).
In a hectic final phase, Kübler had the chance to take the lead after a deflected cross (85th, Baumann saved). Instead, TSG got a corner kick – which decided the game: Raum’s cross found Richards, who headed in powerfully for the 2-1 final score (90.+4). That’s how it stayed until the end.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday from 20.30: Freiburg at Union Berlin, Hoffenheim, who passed Sport-Club in the table, at Leverkusen.
