Max Kruse penalty not enough for a win as Hoffenheim earn draw at Union Berlin
Max Kruse scored his second penalty of the season against Hoffenheim, but it was not enough to earn Union Berlin all three points as a Nico Schlotterbeck own-goal earned the guests a point in the capital.
Union 1-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Kruse (pen. 9'), 1-1 Schlotterbeck (o.g. 29')
The hosts made a flying start with Florian Grillitsch bringing down Christopher Trimmel inside the penalty area within ten minutes. Kruse, whose pass had sent Trimmel through, stepped up to convert from the spot with a textbook penalty into the top right-hand corner. Ihlas Bebou almost replied by scoring for a fourth straight Bundesliga game, but Marvin Friedrich cleared his chipped effort from in front of the line. The equalising goal did eventually come for Hoffenheim and Bebou was involved as Loris Karius pushed a cross against the Hoffenheim forward's shoulder and the ball ricocheted in off Union defender Schlotterbeck.
The second half lacked the verve and gusto of the opening 45 minutes, but there were still chances for both teams to score. Andrej Kramaric fired in Hoffenheim's first, which was blocked away, before he tried his luck again with the same outcome. Bebou flashed an even better opportunity wide with only Karius to beat as the game entered into its final 15 minutes. Another goalline clearance was needed by Schlotterbeck to keep Union on terms and a Ryan Sessegnon effort was blocked before the offside flag ruled out a Pavel Kaderabek strike as Hoffenheim ended the game strongly. They could not find a winner, though, as the spoils were shared at the Alte Försterei, extending Union's club record unbeaten home streak to 11.
Match stats
- Kruse has scored 18 out of 19 penalties he has taken in the Bundesliga, and converted on the rebound the only one he has missed.
- It was Kruse's 81st Bundesliga goal, of which nine have come against Hoffenheim - more than against any other club.
- Karius conceded for the first time in the Bundesliga this season, after 230 minutes on the field.
- Hoffenheim had 14 shots on goal (four on target) to Union's four (one on target).
- Union are unbeaten in 11 Bundesliga matches on home soil (W4, D7) - a club record.
Watch: Kruse: "Great to be back on the pitch"
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Line-ups
Union: Karius - Friedrich, Knoche, Schlotterbeck - Trimmel (c), Prömel (Gentner 63'), Andrich, Lenz (Bülter 46') - Ingvartsen - Pohjanpalo (Musa 63'), Kruse (Teuchert 74')
Unused subs: Busk, Ryerson, Hübner, Griesbeck, Endo
Out: Awoniyi (thigh), Becker (ankle), Gießelmann (shoulder), Ujah (knee)
Coach: Urs Fischer
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Vogt, Grillitsch, Richards - Kaderabek, Rudy, Samassekou, John (Sessegnon 67') - Baumgartner - Bebou (Adamyan 90'), Kramaric (Dabbur 90')
Unused subs: Pentke, Brenet, Adams, Bogarde, Skov, Rutter
Out: Akpoguma (hamstring), Belfodil (groin), Bicakcic (knee), Gacinovic (ankle), Geiger (hamstring), Hübner (ankle), Nordtveit (foot), Posch (not included), Stafylidis (shoulder)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
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