FIRST TEAM
04/05/2013

3-0 win puts TSG back in the chase

Markus Gisdol celebrated his opening game as TSG 1899 Hoffenheim manager with three points after his side beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-0. Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland strikes coupled with an Andreas Lambertz own goal secured the result that sees TSG cut the gap to Augsburg down to one point, with the 16th-placed side due to play in Dortmund on Saturday.

New TSG manager Markus Gisdol's first game in charge saw him make three changes from last week's defeat to Schalke 04; Eugen Polanski, Sejad Salihovic and Sven Schipplock all returned to first-team action with Patrick Ochs, Danny Williams and Joselu dropping out. It has been a week of changes for Hoffenheim, something that needed to be replicated in terms of the match result against Schalke, with chances to catch up to the relegation play-off place running out.

The atmosphere inside the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena was already rocking with the sound of optimistic home fans before the kick-off, but when TSG took the lead after just 11 minutes, the sense of hope raised along with the roof. Roberto Firmino's strength in midfield allowed him to break away with Hoffenheim attacking with four on two after a failed Fortuna free kick. When the ball was played to Schipplock, it looked like he had been dispossessed on the edge of the area, but the striker recovered from the tackle to play a quick return pass to Firmino and the Brazilian fired in a strike off the underside of the crossbar. TSG had been the better side for the opening ten minutes, but had previously failed to trouble Fabian Giefer with efforts from outside the box. The Düsseldorf keeper's first action though, was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Firmino's fifth goal of the season.

The visitors continued to lack the killer final ball throughout the first half as Heurelho Gomes dealt with any crosses into the box fairly comfortably. Düsseldorf's flow had also been broken early on after an injury forced starting striker Mathis Bolly to be replaced by Dani Schahin inside ten minutes. An injury also brought about Markus Gisdol's first substitute as TSG manager in the 34rd minute, with David Abraham withdrawn for Matthieu Delpierre. Hoffenheim looked good value for their 1-0 lead and tried to add to it early on in the second half. Once again it was Roberto Firmino who started the attack, but when Volland's dinked square-ball gave Schipplock the chance to finish it off, the striker could only direct his half-volley at the visiting keeper.

All eyes on Augsburg

Gisdol's chances to affect the game tactically with his bench had already been restricted and suffered a further setback ten minutes into the second period. Heurelho Gomes, who has made an impression since moving to Kraichgau on loan in January, suffered a hand injury when diving out bravely to make a save and had to be replaced by Koen Casteels. The Belgium U21 player last made a Bundesliga appearance back in December but looked confident with his first action, gathering well from a deep Düsseldorf free kick.

As the second half progressed, the away team started to enjoy more of the ball as Hoffenheim sat further back in the hope of protecting their slender advantage. Norbert Meier's side still lacked the cutting edge though, and Casteels remained untested. Giefer was much the busier keeper and in the 75th minute, even had one of his own players causing him problems. Salihovic's corner was delivered dangerously and Andreas Lambertz inadvertently headed the ball into his own net with the Düsseldorf keeper unable to intervene. With the lead now doubled, Hoffenheim could afford to relax somewhat and the new man at the helm made his final change, bringing off Schipplock to allow for Sebastian Rudy's return to first-team action.

With so many stops in play, five minutes of added time even gave TSG the chance to add a third goal courtesy of Kevin Volland. Salihovic's pass from midfield caught the Fortuna backline flat-footed and Volland rounded Giefer before slotting into the empty net and adding a real gloss to a solid team performance. Though the injuries to Abraham and Gomes won't please Markus Gisdol, there was plenty to be happy about on matchday 28 as Hoffenheim move to within a point of the relegation play-off place before the weekend's play. Though Augsburg may drop points, it's up to Hoffenheim to ensure they continue positively and next up is a trip to VfL Wolfsburg at 15.30 CET on Saturday, 13th April.

Matt Hardy

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim:
Gomes (54' Casteels) – Beck, Abraham (34' Delpierre), Vestergaard, Johnson – Weis, Polanski, Salihovic – Firmino, Schipplock (81' Rudy), Volland

Fortuna Düsseldorf: Giefer – Balogun, Latka, Malezas, van den Bergh – Lambertz (84' Reisinger), Fink, Tesche (65' Ilsö), Bellinghausen – Kruse – Bolly (9' Schahin)

Goals: 1-0 Firmino (11'), 2-0 Lambertz o.g. (75'), 3-0 Volland (90+4')
Yellow cards:
Salihovic, Schipplock, Weis – Latka, Tesche, Ilsö
Attendance:
28,000
Referee:
Wolfgang Stark

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