TSG Hoffenheim
VfB Stuttgart
| 0-1 | Harnik | (3. Min) |
Arthur Boka
Stats 
Martin Harnik scores against Hoffenheiim.
Finally! The first win of 2013
The only goal of the game was scored early, but it was enough! In an intensive away game at TSG Hoffenheim, the travelling fans deeply enjoyed a 1-0 (1-0) win. The golden goal on the day was scored by Martin Harnik.
Compared to last weekend, Bruno Labbadia made just one change to his starting eleven, with Raphael Holzhauser, who turned 20 on Saturday, coming in to replace the injured Tunay Torun.
With just two and a half minutes played, the VfB fans were on their feet and celebrating. Ibrahima Traoré jinked past his marker on the left wing and delivered a cross to the back post, were Martin Harnik stooped low to head home and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Dominant VfB
Shortly afterwards, the 3,000 travelling fans were prepared to celebrate again, but Ibrahima Traoré’s shot narrowly missed the target (8’). There was then more of the same in the 13th minute, this time with Martin Harnik chesting a long ball back into the path of Vedad Ibisevic, whose effort went agonizingly wide of the mark.
Lead at the break
Following a fairly even ten minute period, Raphael Holzhauser fired a free-kick from 25 meters out just over the crossbar (37’) and at the other end, Georg Niedermeier launched himself long to block an effort from Joselu (38’). The remainder of the half passed without incident and VfB took their narrow lead into the break.
The first opening of the second period fell to the home side, but Sven Ulreich was alert and could avert the danger from a TSG free-kick (50’). Five minutes later, Ibrahima Traoré tested Heurelho Gomes, but the Brazilian keeper was equal to the effort.
VfB striker Vedad Ibisevic: "Just as in the previous matches, we were determined to play out own game no matter what happened."Post match comments
Tense to the close
In an at times sloppy closing period, the play swung back and forth, with both sides providing ill-placed passes in front of a crowd of 28,750 but with few true chances being created. In spite of that though, the game remained an open affair. In the 82nd minute, Raphael Holzhauser made way for Cristian Molinaro.
Hoffenheim threw everything they had into attack in search of an equaliser but remained unrewarded for their efforts. Shinji Okazaki replaced Traoré late on (87’) and Sven Ulreich was forced to clear from Erin Derdiyok in the 90th minute. It was to prove the final chance in the match and VfB hung on to claim their first win of 2013.
