Endless opportunities, but only a single goal ultimately decided a spectacular duel: Marco Reus shot Borussia Dortmund into the DFB Cup round of 16 against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Wednesday (November 1st, 2023). The 1-0 (1-0) win was well deserved, but given how the game went, a 6:3 would have been appropriate.
BVB coach Edin Terzic said after the game: “I think it was a very deserved win, with our performance we would have deserved to get a different result. But overall we took a clear step forward in the way we combined in attack and kept the opponent well away from the goal have left out.”
The game didn’t take the slightest bit of time to get going; right from the kick-off there was a big alarm in both penalty areas. Hoffenheim actually had to take the lead after just one minute. BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel deflected a shot from Ihlas Bebou at the feet of Mergim Berisha, who had the almost empty goal in front of him. But somehow Nico Schlotterbeck got his hands on the ball on the line and was able to clear it in desperate need.
Moukoko and Bynoe-Gittens awarded
A breathtaking exchange of blows followed with a multitude of chances on both sides: Schlotterbeck with a header (9th) and Youssoufa Moukoko (10th) missed for BVB, then Anton Stach narrowly failed on the other side (16th). Then it was Dortmund’s turn again: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens missed by a tiny bit (25′), then Kevin Vogt got a foot in Marco Reus’s finish (33′).
In the 38th minute, BVB hadfans He even shouted for goal twice, but Oliver Baumann first fended off Reus’ attempt and then Marius Wolf’s follow-up shot.
It wasn’t until two minutes before the break that the ball finally found its way into the net: Bynoe-Gittens had played to Reus in the center, he didn’t hit the ball properly and shot himself at his supporting leg, but that’s exactly why his shot mutated into an arc that was unpredictable for Baumann Top right corner – Dortmund took the long overdue 1-0 into the break.
Opportunity Festival even after the change
After the change, the game only continued in one direction. Bynoe-Gittens missed the second goal in the 48th minute, shortly afterwards Baumann made a sensational save against a cracker from Moukoko. It was only after almost an hour that the guests once again had a dangerous move, but Maximilian Beier clearly missed his volley from close range.
After that, things calmed down for a short time, before Anthony Brooks a bad mistake in the build-up almost ensured the preliminary decision in BVB’s favor – Donyell Malen was free in front of the TSG goal but was unable to pass the cross to Julian Brandt (74′). So the duel remained exciting until the final whistle, even if the Hoffenheim team lacked the strength to make a last stand in the end. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, the previously good referee Harm Osmers sent off TSG defender Ozan Kaban with a yellow-red card – but it was actually a striker’s foul by Malen.
Two top games in the Bundesliga follow
TSG now continues next Saturday (November 4th, 2023) at 3:30 p.m. against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Three hours later, the top game of the 10th matchday between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich will kick off.