FIRST TEAM
07/06/2013

3-1 win for TSG in season's opening friendly against Geislingen

There were perfect conditions for football as 2,500 fans witnessed an entertaining game between seventh-tier side SC Geislingen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Manager Markus Gisdol saw his side triumph 3-1 against his hometown club in TSG's first friendly match of the 2013/14 season.

Niklas Süle scored Hoffenheim's first goal of the new campaign, turning the ball in from close range in the 28th minute. After the break, a completely changed Hoffenheim line-up added two more goals courtesy of Jeremy Toljan and Kai Herdling.

In the 79th minute, Daniel Zuljevic became a Geislingen hero. His close-range finish caused a surge of players from the bench, who carried Zuljevic on their shoulders. “It's an indescribable feeling,” said the goalscorer after the game. “Markus Gisdol was my first manager in Geislingen. He brought me from the youth team. It makes it even more special. It's like a dream. Shame I couldn't grab another one,” he said with a wink.

“It's important to get into our rhythm”

Markus Gisdol was the man in demand on the return to his hometown, but the TSG players also gathered some interest. After the final whistle, the fans burst onto the pitch in the hunt for autographs from the Bundesliga players and hundreds of photos were taken. Markus Gisdol answered a few questions after the match. “I come to the area frequently. I spent my entire youth here. I have a real affinity with the place,” explained the TSG manager.

There are still a few things to iron out in the team's play however, according to Gisdol. “So far, we've mostly worked on our fitness. It's important for me that we slowly get into our rhythm. I don't care too much about the result in a match like this. If we had used our chances a bit better though, the end result would have been much friendlier.”

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