Depleted Hoffenheim fail to find way past stubborn Werderaner
Sebastian Hoeneß's Kraichgauer enjoyed the far larger share of second half chances, but ultimately couldn't overcome an early Bremen goal to claim all three points at the Weserstadion on Sunday night.
Florian Kohfeldt's men held on despite losing two key attackers to injury.
Florian Kohfeldt's men held on despite losing two key attackers to injury.
| Sebastian Hoeness. |
Hosts SV Werder Bremen took early advantage. On the first Hanseaten attack of the game, onrushing Theodor Gebre Selassie sliced through the Sinsheimer defensive ranks. The Czech international returned the ball to Maximilian Eggestein, who had initiated the sequence, with a well-placed cutback. Bremen's lone midfield general finished with a flourish to put his team up 1-0 in the 5th.
The Hoffenheim equalizer came courtesy of two fortunate deflections in the 22nd. Danish international Robert Skov's distance effort was inadvertently directed into the path of Sebastian Rudy. The Kraichgauer midfielder's cutback found Dennis Geiger, also via a bounce off a Bremen player. The 22-year-old nevertheless found the finish.
Quality chances were few and far between thereafter. Skov took aim at goal several more times, in most cases missing by miles. The Dane would get his best chance at a winner in the 80th. He hit the post with a powerful free kick.
In a most concerning development for trainer Florian Kohfeldt, two Werder Bremen players incurred injury and had to be subbed off. Leading goal-scorer Nicolas Füllkrug pulled a calf muscle and exited in the 37th. His replacement, Japanese striker Yuya Osako, left in the 87th after sustaining a knee knock.
