Baumann saves Hoffenheim's draw: home misery continues
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have once again revealed their weakness at home in the Bundesliga. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's team were held to a 1:1 (0:1) draw against relegation-threatened FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday and have celebrated just one win in six appearances at the Sinsheim stadium so far this first half of the season. Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann saved his third penalty of the season.
"We invited Mainz to concede too often and they were actually closer to victory," admitted Matarazzo. He can no longer hear the question about the reasons for the home misery "either. I think the performance today was simply not good enough to win. Two short phases are not enough."
In front of 22,000 spectators, Marco Richter (39th minute) scored his first goal for FSV to take the lead. Robert Skov (49) equalized for the Kraichgauers. TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann saved at least a point for the sixth-placed team in the table when he saved a penalty from Aymen Barkok (69). "We're in a decent position. But as always, there's a lot of detail work to be done," said Hoffenheim's captain after the final whistle.
Interim coach Jan Siewert picked up his fifth point in his third game in charge of the visitors and continued to make his case for a permanent position. However, the Rheinhessen side are still waiting for their second win of the season
Loud music blared from the Hoffenheim team bus as it pulled into the stadium - on the pitch, the TSG professionals led by ex-Mainzer Anton Stach and DFB squad newcomer Grischa Prömel had to search for their rhythm for a long time. The cleverly organized Mainz team kept their penalty area clear until the speedy Maximilian Beier got into a shooting position for the first time after just over 20 minutes, but failed to score from an acute angle and shortly afterwards from a turn.
Otherwise, too many mistakes crept into the hosts' mostly uninspired play to put the visitors in trouble. Suddenly, Mainz took the lead when Edimilson Fernandes broke through the TSG defense with a long pass on the left and Richter rushed up and shot past Baumann. Shortly afterwards, the Hoffenheim keeper prevented Barkok from making it 2-0.
In a wild scene just before the break, Hoffenheim missed five chances to equalize - including Marius Bülter heading against the post. Mainz, whose squad was decimated, at least had their captain Silvan Widmer available for the first time after five months out of action. The sorely missed attacker Jonathan Burkardt made his comeback as a substitute after a one-year injury break due to bone marrow edema in his knee and two operations.
Matarazzo then revitalized the home side with three changes. Joker Pavel Kaderabek delivered a long cross to Skov, who was left alone and shot in to make it 1:1. The game then went back and forth. Following a video review, referee Deniz Aytekin awarded a penalty after Jae Sujng Lee was hit in the penalty area. However, Baumann dived into the right corner for Barkok's shot. The goalkeeper was extremely lucky when Richter struck the crossbar twice from free kicks in the closing stages to prevent Mainz from scoring the winner.
Despite the home disadvantage, FSV Mainz 05 managed to take the lead against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, with Marco Richter scoring in the 39th minute. However, Hoffenheim's goalkeeper Oliver Baumann saved a penalty from Aymen Barkok in the 69th minute, helping TSG 1899 Hoffenheim secure a draw against the relegation-threatened team in the Bundesliga's Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FSV Mainz 05.
Source: www.dpa.com
