Status: 10/15/2021 10:36 p.m.
1899 Hoffenheim put a bitter damper on the sprouting European Cup dreams of 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga.
In Cologne, too, the trees do not grow into the sky, not even after the best Bundesliga start in six years. At the start of the eighth game day of the Bundesliga on Friday evening (October 15, 2021), the previously disappointing TSG Hoffenheim showed its beautiful face and beat Steffen Baumgart’s team 5-0 (1-0).
Ihlas Bebou (31st minute / 49th), Christoph Baumgartner (51st), Dennis Geiger (74th) and Stefan Posch (88th) scored the goals for the Kraichgauer.
Hoffenheim rebuilds the defense, Cologne without captain Hector
Hoffenheim’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß had rebuilt his defense. Kevin Vogt and Chris Richards sat surprisingly on the bench. Kevin Akpoguma and Stefan Posch moved into central defense, and the most recently injured Austrian international Christoph Baumgartner was also in the starting line-up.
Salih Özcan replaced the injured midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who had scored three of the Rhinelander’s last four goals, when the Cologne team had started the season so well. Captain Jonas Hector had signed off on short notice and was played by Kingsley Ehizibue.
Curious big opportunity
From Hoffenheim’s point of view, things got off to a pretty good start. FC defender Rafael Czichos (7th) crossed the ball from the corner flag in front of his own goal in a curious action – TSG striker Andrej Kramaric gratefully accepted the ball in the penalty area, but failed because of the great parrying Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn.
The game was played intensively by both teams, but many bad passes on both sides did not allow the game to flow properly. Compelling scoring chances remained in short supply.
Hoffenheim’s leadership out of nowhere
Significantly, the Hoffenheim lead gate fell out of nowhere. Kramaric sent Bebou steeply into the interface of the Cologne defense with a brilliant pass. The Croatian attack partner also rounded FC goalkeeper Horn and easily pushed the ball into the goal.
As a result, Cologne continued to act with commitment, but lacked creativity and punch in front of the Hoffenheim goal. The FC also did not bring the notorious emotionality onto the pitch.
Double strike at the beginning of the second half
Before the Cologne team could have rallied in the second round, TSG brutally followed up. Four minutes after the restart, Akpoguma served Bebou in an exemplary manner in front of the goal, who completed it elegantly with a hoe. Just two minutes later, David Raum passed from the baseline to Baumgartner, who scored from close range.
From this shock experience, the Cologne no longer recovered. Even though they didn’t bury their heads in the sand, they only reacted and were never able to build on the passionate performances of the previous weeks – even the encouraging chants of the FC supporters didn’t change that.
Highest victory under Hoeneß
After the ice-cold double strike, Hoffenheim limited themselves to conserving their strength. But that was enough to give the FC two more goals. Geiger managed to block Akpoguma’s shot from close range. A free kick by Kramaric (81st) from about 20 meters hit the crossbar. Posch’s header hit shortly before the end marked the highest Hoffenheim victory in the aegis of coach Hoeneß.
Of the 1. FC Cologne is now expecting Bayer Leverkusen’s neighbors for the derby in Müngersdorf on matchday 9 (October 24, 2021, 3:30 p.m.). 1899 Hoffenheim is also a guest at Bayern Munich at 3:30 p.m. the day before.
Source: sportschau.de