3rd matchday
Hoffenheim stops Wolfsburg mini-series
Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier (r) celebrates his goal to make it 2-1. photo
© Uli Deck/dpa
Now it has also hit VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for the first time. The harmless Lower Saxony lose in Hoffenheim.
Thanks to a solid defense and great efficiency in attack, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim has dem VfL Wolfsburg inflicted their first defeat of the season in the Bundesliga. The Kraichgauers deservedly won 3:1 (1:1) in front of 17,500 spectators and thus celebrated their second win in a row.
The Portuguese Tiago Tomás gave VfL the lead in the 36th minute, but ex-Wolfsburg player John Anthony Brooks (45’+2′), Maximilian Beier (60′) and Robert Skov (74′) turned the game in favor with their goals the host. Both teams now have six points.
After the two wins at the start against Heidenheim and in Cologne, the guests appeared confident from the start and Maximilian Arnold had their first chance early on. TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann deflected the Wolfsburg captain’s shot over the crossbar.
Hardly any highlights in the first half
The hosts struggled for a long time in building up the game. Only a low shot by Beier, who was making his debut in the Bundesliga, initially threatened the guests. However, VfL keeper Coen Casteels was on his toes.
In a first half lacking in highlights, a successful move was enough for the Wolfsburg team to take the lead. Jonas Wind served the free Tiago Tomás with a nice pass, who kept his nerves in front of Baumann and finished ice cold.
In stoppage time, the home side then showed their playful class. After a one-two, Marius Bülter brought the ball low in front of the goal, where the advanced defender Brooks was completely free and easily scored the equalizer.
Hoffenheim dangerous on the counter
Even after the change, Wolfsburg had more possession. The home side had the first opportunity, however, when Florian Grillitsch hit the post with a direct acceptance. A few minutes later, Hoffenheim were allowed to celebrate. Beier hit the TSG lead with a left-footed shot.
The Lower Saxony then intensified their attacking efforts, but repeatedly got stuck in the defense of the hosts, which was still unstable in the first games of the season.
Hoffenheim mainly relied on counterattacks in summer temperatures and achieved their goal again with this strategy. Substitute Skov met Andrej Kramaric’s assist with a great shot into the far post. The Wolfsburg protests because of an alleged handball in the run-up were unsuccessful according to video evidence.
Mergim Berisha, who arrived from FC Augsburg just before the end of the transfer period, scored in the closing stages, but the striker was previously ruled offside. On the other side, Baumann prevented the goal in injury time with a foot defense against Ridle Baku.