Sebastian Hoeneß’ side were caught off guard in front of a sold-out MHP-Arena in the fourth minute when Grischa Prömel opened the scoring. Deniz Undav could have equalised just two minutes later when he found himself with just goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to beat, but he was unable to find the target.
Behind at the break
Anthony Rouault conceded a penalty in the 21st minute, which Wout Weghorst used to put the visitors 2-0 up. VfB were awarded a spot-kick of their own shortly before the half-hour mark when Undav was upended inside the area, but Baumann saved his effort, leaving the boys from Cannstatt behind at the interval, despite a committed first-half display.
Empty-handed
Chris Führich reduced the deficit in the second half (61’), but Robert Skov restored Hoffenheim’s two-goal advantage just four minutes later. Undav set up a grandstand finale with a close-range header to make it 3-2 (73’), but VfB were unable to find an equaliser before the final whistle.
Goals
4th minute: Maximilian Beier is thwarted by Alex Nübel, but the rebound falls to Prömel, who puts the away side in front.
21st minute: Weghorst makes no mistake from the spot to make it 2-0.
61st minute: Führich scores for VfB following a superb one-two with Undav.
66th minute: Skov dashes into the penalty area and his angled drive gives Hoffenheim their third.
73rd minute: Jamie Leweling’s cross bounces off the post and falls to Undav, who heads in VfB’s second.
Reaction
VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “We didn’t look good for either of their first two goals. But we also created some good chances ourselves, we reacted well, took the game by the scruff of the neck and seized control. We gradually increased our pressure in the second half and got our goal. Hoffenheim were very clinical today. We had opportunities to score and our performance was good, but we’re disappointed that we lost. It’s all about scoring and finishing your chances, and Hoffenheim were better at that today. Now we have to look forwards.”