achtzehn99-Review 2009

September 2009

With four wins in the Bundesliga and progression to the last 16 of the DFB Cup, September was a golden month for 1899 Hoffenheim. The drought in front of goal finally appeared to have come to an end, with Vedad Ibisevic ending his barren spell slamming home a spectacular hat-trick.

12.09.: 1899 Hoffenheim 3-0 VfL Bochum
1899 Hoffenheim scored a resounding victory over VfL Bochum, winning 3:0. Hoffenheim were too much for Bochum, controlling both halves seemingly at will. Bochum began the match playing deep in their own half, and after Demba Ba put Hoffenheim up by one, the visitors could not bring the ball forward effectively and make any real goal opportunities. In the second half, Hoffenheim continued to play with an attacking style and Chinedu Obasi's goal was a logical product of their dominance. The match was all but decided when Marvin Compper finished the guests off late in the game. Efficient tackling, good running and a very concerted effort by the entire Hoffenheim squad powered the hosts to victory.

19.09.: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-4 1899 Hoffenheim
Gladbach put the visitors under heaps of pressure in the first half and deservedly took a two-goal lead, but Hoffenheim came back into the match in the second period and began to assert their attacking game on the hosts when Brazilian star Maicosuel entered the fray. Still a goal down going into the final five minutes, Hoffenheim went for the win and were rewarded with three late goals from Maicosuel, Obasi and Ba.

22.09.: DFB-Pokal: 1. FC Nürnberg 0-1 1899 Hoffenheim
1899 Hoffenhim went through to the second round of the DFB Cup thanks to a 1-0 victory in Nürnberg. The visitors were the dominant team throughout the match and created plenty of chances, of which only one was converted by Per Nilsson in the 35th minute. After the goal, Hoffenheim continued to press their opponents and should have doubled their lead early in the second half. Nürnberg managed to call Hoffenheim keeper Timo Hildebrand into action in the final ten minutes, but 1899 held on for a deserved victory and will now be hoping for a home tie in round three.

27.09.: 1899 Hoffenheim 5-1 Hertha BSC Berlin
1899 Hoffenheim completely overwhelmed Hertha BSC Berlin with a deserved 5-1 victory on home turf. The hosts were on their way within the opening few minutes and toyed with their guests throughout the opening period. Not even a consolation goal just before the interval was enough to deter Ralf Rangnick's men, who carried their attacking display through into the second half and could easily have won by an even higher margin.