Hansi Flick saw everything clearly: under the eyes of the national soccer coach, Niclas Füllkrug shone as a strong-nerved penalty taker and clever preparer at his World Cup exhibition. The strong performance of the Bundesliga top scorer also paid off for Werder Bremen. The promoted team won 2-1 (1-1) at TSG Hoffenheim at the start of the 9th matchday.
With the victory, the Bremen team, who are still unbeaten away from home, passed the Kraichgau team in the table and, with 15 points, are fourth for at least one night. Marvin Ducksch (18th) and Füllkrug (87th, penalty after video evidence) made sure of that with their hits.
TSG, on the other hand, missed the leap to second place as a result of their first home defeat. Munas Dabbur’s goal (32nd) didn’t change that.
“That was important for us. It wasn’t our best game. Of course, as a promoted player, we’re happy to take three points away,” said Mitchell Weiser on “DAZN”.
Baumgartner: “Bitter” that TSG loses the game
TSG offensive player Christoph Baumgartner was disappointed: “For long stretches we were the more dangerous team. So it’s bitter that we lose the game.”
Füllkrug was the focus of attention even before kick-off. After all, the 29-year-old had scored seven goals and provided two more assists in his first eight league games. The strong performances meant that the striker was brought into play by record national player Lothar Matthäus and Rio world champion Bastian Schweinsteiger as a candidate for the World Cup finals in Qatar (November 20 to December 18).
The 25,410 spectators in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena didn’t have to wait long for the hosts’ first big chance. Robert Skov narrowly missed from the edge of the penalty area (2′). Shortly thereafter, the Dane missed another good opportunity (3rd).
Werders Ducksch with a hit and a bad pass
In the 7th minute, Füllkrug appeared for the first time with a – rather harmless – header in the Hoffenheim penalty area. After that, the guests came into play better. Ducksch completed a counterattack after preparatory work by Füllkrug for Bremen’s lead.
However, the goal scorer initiated the equalization through Dabbur with a bad pass almost a quarter of an hour later. Ducksch’s defensive behavior was also weak in the scene. Just two minutes after the goal, Christoph Baumgartner had the TSG lead on his toes but hit the post. On the other side, Füllkrug tested Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (36′).
Until the break, Hoffenheim, who had to do without Ihlas Bebou, Ermin Bicakcic and Benjamin Hübner, were much closer to the second goal than the Hanseatic League.
Weiser: “It’s a clear 911 for me”
At the beginning of the second half it was again the Austrian Baumgartner who caused danger (52./55.). The Hoffenheim leadership seemed only a matter of time. But neither Dabbur (62nd) nor Grischa Prömel (65th) could not overcome Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka. Since Werder hardly got anything going forward, Füllkrug was largely up in the air during this phase.
Then the top scorer made his big appearance. After a foul by Stanley Nsoki on Mitchell Weiser, Füllkrug converted the penalty safely.
“He pulls my leg away,” said Weiser at “DAZN”, “for me it’s a clear penalty”. The game was “not our best,” the full-back admitted: “But as a promoted team, we’re happy to take three points away.”
TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann struggled with the way the game went: “Our game was so good that you should never lose this game in your life. Our first half was brutally good. That’s why it’s extremely bitter.”