Second friendly, second thrashing

Adam Szalai, Sebastian Rudy, Jin-Su Kim, Ermin Bicakcic and Tarik Elyounoussi, all of whom had extended holidays due to their international commitments, returned to the team against FCZ. With those players now on board, Markus Gisdol’s squad is even closer to being complete for the second week of pre-season, with training in Zuzenhausen and two friendlies against Neckarsulm and Weinheim coming up. 

The returnees all made a good impression in their comeback match. Kim picked out the top corner following a delightful solo effort just before the break, while Szalai and Elyounoussi both netted hat-tricks. Rudy bossed in the midfield for 45 minutes and Ermin Bicakcic gave nothing away at the back. As is customary in these early friendlies, Markus Gisdol changed almost the entire team at half time, with only Jeremy Toljan playing more than 45 minutes.

Schipplock opens the scoring...

TSG took their time to score the first goal during the opening ten minutes, but when it came it was worth waiting for. After a superb long ball from Jonathan Schmid, Sven Schipplock finished with a delightful lob from the edge of the box to make it 1-0. Philipp Ochs doubled the lead 14 minutes later, pouncing quickly after Niklas Süle’s shot deflected onto the post.

Schmid’s debut goal

Kim made it three a minute later, before Schipplock completed his brace in the 36th minute to make it 4-0. Zuzenhausen tried their best to put up a fight but barely left their own half. Jonathan Schmid then added his first TSG goal to the scoresheet on the 42-minute mark. Mark Uth played him through and he was able to simply take it round the keeper and slot home. Toljan made it 6-0 to Hoffenheim just before the half-time whistle.

After the break, it took just seven minutes before Elyounoussi bagged TSG’s seventh of the game, before Szalai made it 8-0 in the 56th minute. The Hungarian pressed high up the pitch and his eventual interception was rewarded with a goal. The striker scored again in the 61st minute after a low ball into the box by Kingsley Schindler. 

Strobl’s wonder strike

TSG then bagged three goals in as many minutes through Elyounoussi, Strobl and Szalai to make it a dozen on the board with 16 minutes to play. Strobl’s goal in particular was one to savour, as the defender struck the ball perfectly into the top corner from 25 yards. Elyounoussi’s goal was also great to watch – Mees chipped the ball forward and the Norwegian’s left-footed shot flew in off the far post.

Elyounoussi bagged another in the 78th minute to score the 13th and seemingly last goal, before TSG’s new Brazilian, Joelinton, popped up with the final goal in the dying seconds. 

Markus Gisdol was understandably happy after the match: “Our opponents usually play in the Verbandsliga, though it’s still pleasing to score so many goals. For us, the match was another welcomed break from the exhausting training sessions. We’re using these matches to get to know each other.”