TSG Hoffenheim II vs. FSV Frankfurt 2:3

FSV Frankfurt took on TSG Hoffenheim U23 at the Dietmar Hopp Stadium in Sinsheim this Friday evening. After their recent 2:1 home win against SGV Freiberg, the Bornheim side were able to extend their small winning streak with an away win today and temporarily move to the top of the table.

Compared to the Freiberg game, Birkan Celik and Giorgio Del Vecchio were in today's starting eleven. Tobias Peitz was absent today due to injury and George Iorga was initially on the bench. The game began with an early setback for Bornheim: in the fourth minute of the match, Hoffenheim were awarded their first corner kick, which was taken by Milan Rehus. Ruben Reisig jumped highest in the penalty area and converted the lead with his head. However, FSV were not intimidated by this and switched gears. After Cas Peters crossed the ball into the home penalty area, Lucas Hermes sprinted towards the ball and was brought down by his opponents. Referee Veron Besiri did not hesitate for long and pointed to the penalty spot. Peters converted the spot-kick in the eighth minute to equalize. The Black & Blues now got into the game better and put the Kraichgau team under pressure. In the 23rd minute, Frankfurt were once again in front of the U23 team's penalty area and Birkan Celik crossed into the box from close range to Lucas Hermes, who headed home to make it 2-1 and turn the game around. Head coach Vincent Wagner's home side looked for an opportunity to equalize in the course of the first half, but FSV stood firm and did a good job defensively. Bornheim also tackled well in the duels and did not let anything get in the way. In the 37th minute of the match, head coach Tim Görner's team played the U23 defense wide open, Celik finally took aim at the Hoffenheim goal and shot, but the Kraichgau goalkeeper Lukas Blöndal Petersson made a save to prevent the lead from being extended. Shortly before the half-time whistle, the Blue & Whites showed themselves again and pushed towards the visitors' penalty area. Luka Duric beat two opponents and found himself alone in front of FSV goalkeeper Henry Bremer, who cleared his shot with his leg for a corner kick, which also failed to produce the equalizer. After three minutes of stoppage time, the South Hessians went into the break with a 2:1 lead.

TSG came back more courageously in the second half and continued to press for the equalizer. Compared to the first half, Wagner's team acted more courageously and around five minutes after the restart, Arian Llugiqi shot at the Bornheim goal, but the ball went over the goal and another goal kick followed for Bremer. The FSV fans in attendance waited until the 56th minute for their team's next goal, which Hermes scored again after a short, flat pass from Celik. The joy of extending the lead did not last long, however, as Llugiqi reduced the deficit two minutes later from close range after the Bornheim defense failed to clear the ball out of the danger zone. Shortly afterwards, “Hoffe zwo” were back in the visitors' penalty area and almost equalized after Ruben Reisig lobbed the ball over Bremer and just missed the target. TSG II's quick response was evident right up to the final whistle, as the hosts dominated the final 30 minutes and took a tougher approach to tackles. In the final phase, the South Hesse side in white were forced to play with ten men, as substitute Malik Memisevic left the pitch due to injury following a foul and Tim Görner had already exhausted his substitution options. FSV tried to create a few more opportunities to score a fourth goal, but did not risk much. After a good five minutes of stoppage time, referee Besiri brought the controversial encounter to a close. In any case, today's away win was a good one.

FSV Frankfurt won 3:2 at TSG Hoffenheim U23 and are temporarily in first place in the table. The Görner eleven will continue next Saturday, August 31, at home against Bahlinger SC. Kick-off is at 2 p.m. in the PSD Bank Arena.