Nine games not lost in the league. The series does not go on. Wolfsburg, the top team in the second half of the season, loses at 1899 Hoffenheim. Two defeats within a few days. When asked about a dent, striker Weghorst answered a brief counter-question.
Hoffenheim’s striker Andrej Kramaric (M) cheers with teammates Christoph Baumgartner (l) and Ihlas Bebou (r) about his goal to make it 2-1. Photo: Uwe Anspach / dpa (Image: dpa)
(Photo: Uwe Anspach / dpa)
Sinsheim – Koen Casteels whistled for the end of his personal series after more than eleven hours without conceding a goal, the first defeat of VfL Wolfsburg annoyed the keeper all the more.
“Disappointment, that’s normal,” he said, describing his mood after the 1: 2 (1: 2) at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Three days after the cup at RB Leipzig, the Wolfsburg second half of the season conceded the second bankruptcy in a row. A Sky reporter wanted to know from striker Wout Weghorst whether it was a dent. “Are you serious?” The Dutchman poached back.
As in Leipzig, when he slipped away on a penalty and missed it, the best team of the second half of the season to date could have left the field as the winner in Kraichgau. The first goal for Casteels after 673 minutes in the championship by Christoph Baumgartner (8th) and the hosts’ second goal shortly before the break by Andrej Kramaric (41st) could not be made up for by the guests.
The goal of Hoffenheim-Schreck Weghorst in the 23rd minute to make it 1: 1 was not enough. To make matters worse, coach Oliver Glasner has to do without defender Paulo Otavio for the time being, who saw the red card in the final seconds of the four-minute stoppage time due to a brutal emergency brake.
Instead of consolidating third place in the table, pursuers Eintracht Frankfurt came one more point closer to two points. “I’m a really bad loser anyway,” said coach Oliver Glasner, “that’s why I had a pleasant two months now, because we didn’t lose at all and now twice in a row. It gnaws in me ».
His colleague Sebastian Hoeneß had more reason to be happy: For the fourth time in a row, his team remained unbeaten. Also because Baumgartner crowned a very enjoyable week for him with the early extension of the contract until the end of June 2025 with a dream goal. “Tonight I earned a nice cyclist,” he said happily.
He finished spectacularly with a volley after taking the chest. The ball crashed under the bar and into the goal – a goal for Casteels at his ex-club. Wolfsburg did not appear startled by it, nor did it appear excited. First, Hoffenheim continued the game until Weghorst was back against Hoffenheim. After a pass from Xaver Schlager’s own half, the 28-year-old Dutchman ran with the ball towards the TSG goal and pushed past keeper Oliver Baumann into the goal. Weghorst’s seventh league goal against TSG, his 15th this season.
Despite the now stronger phase of Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim took the lead again before the break. Kramaric didn’t miss a cross from close range. Wolfsburg didn’t want to go home like that. The team turned up after the break and had significantly more possession. A header from Weghorst brushed the crossbar (61st) with the best chance to equalize.
Hoffenheim let themselves be pushed further and further into their own half. After a class attack initiated by Baumgartner, however, there was a great opportunity for the home side. Kramaric shot a free kick from 16 meters well wide of the goal (67th). Wolfsburg braced itself until the end against the third defeat of this season after the pointless games against FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, but almost conceded the 1: 3 when keeper Casteels moved up at a corner, and only the red-worthy one Otavio’s tackle against Munas Dabbur prevented another goal.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210306-99-716323 / 4
<!– image – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – VfL Wolfsburg – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – VfL Wolfsburg – Uwe Anspach –>
– .
