The crowd at the capacity filled Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena, including at least 3,000 VfB fans, were treated to an active beginning from both sides. VfB started particularly well and dominated the first half, during which they took the lead after just eight minutes. Following some good work from Khalid Boulahrouz, Vedad Ibisevic burst forward and foiled Tom Starke to give VfB the early lead.

Ibisevic on target again

In the 27th minute, Ibisevic screwed a shot off target but, shortly before the half time break, the former Hoffenheim front man was on target once again. Again Boulahrouz was involved, swinging in a cross for Ibisevic to launch himself at and head VfB into a 2-0 lead, which they took into the break.

Goal-mouth scenes by the minute

After the re-start, it didn’t take long for the game to pick up pace again. With TSG opening up the play in search of a way back into the game and goal-mouth scenes being created by the minute.VfB’s Zdravko Kuzmanovic collected the ball following a corner and drilled a shot just over the crossbar from 17 meters out. At the other end, in the 50th minute, Ryan Babbel volleyed over from close range. The home side’s best chance to that point fell to Mlapa, who was unable to beat Sven Ulreich in a one-on-one situation. The German Under 21 international had found his shooting boots and tried his luck at every opportunity but, thankfully for VfB, to no avail.

The pace of play dropped off until the closing quarter hour, when things hotted-up again. Firstly Julian Schieber was denied by Tom Starke, before Salihovic saw to it that the final minutes would be tense indeed. Following a foul in the box by Maza on Fabian Johnson, the midfielder buried the resulting penalty to reduce the deficit to 1-2.