Borussia earned a 2-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 13 of the Bundesliga. Alassane Plea from the penalty spot and Nathan Ngoumou netted for the Foals.
In front of around 49,000 spectators at BORUSSIA-PARK, it was an even affair in the first half, in which both teams kept trying to go forward but failed to convert their chances. After the break, Alassane Plea put his side ahead from the penalty spot in the 58th minute, but the visitors equalised immediately through Wout Weghorst in the 60th. The Foals found the winning goal in the 80th minute when Nathan Ngoumou finished off a brilliant attacking move.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes to his starting eleven from the 4-2 defeat in Dortmund. Marvin Friedrich, Florian Neuhaus and Nathan Ngoumou started in place of Max Wöber, Julian Weigl and Jordan. Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Nico Elvedi and Luca Netz made up the back four in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Rocco Reitz and Manu Koné started in central midfield. Franck Honorat, Florian Neuhaus, Alassane Plea and Nathan Ngoumou all featured in attack.
Borussia were missing Jordan and Julian Weigl (both muscle strains), Max Wöber (illness), Tomáš Čvančara (muscle problems), Tony Jantschke (thigh), Ko Itakura (recovering from an ankle operation), Jonas Omlin (recovering from a shoulder operation), Lukas Ullrich (shoulder operation) and Hannes Wolf (back in training after a meniscus tear).
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
5’: The first chance for the Foals. Ngoumou brilliantly heads Plea’s cross towards Neuhaus, who is challenged by Kaderabek at the final moment.
15’: Double opportunity for the visitors! Firstly, Beier just misses an excellent ball across from Kaderabek, before Nicolas tips Stach’s effort from distance over the bar.
37’: Reitz gets to the ball first after a corner but fires over from a tight angle.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
48’: Ngoumou is through on goal after a long ball by Netz but smashes it against the bar. The goal would though not have counted as the Frenchman was in an offside position.
52’: Plea flies forward and shoots from around 20 yards. The ball goes just wide of the post.
58’: Borussia take the lead! Kabak fouls Plea in the penalty area, and he picks himself up to slot the spot kick into the right-hand corner for 1-0.
60’: Hoffenheim make it 1-1 almost straight away. Weghorst gets his head on Tohumcu’s cross at point blank range. Nicolas is there, but cannot quite keep it out.
80’: Borussia take the lead again! Plea lays it off to Netz, who puts a perfect cross into the middle for Ngoumou to tap home and make it 2-1.
90’: Hack strikes from about 20 yards after a quick counterattack. Baumann though tips it wide for a corner.
STATISTICS
Borussia: Nicolas - Scally, Elvedi (Chiarodia 54’), Friedrich, Netz – Honorat (Herrmann 84’), Reitz, Koné, Neuhaus (Kramer 68’) – Plea (Hack 84’), Ngoumou (Ranos 84’) // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Sippel, Walde, Borges Sanches
Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kabak (Bischof 85’), Vogt, Akpoguma – Kaderabek (Bebou 85’), Tohumcu (Grillitsch 74’), Skov (Bülter 59’), Becker (Kramaric 59’), Stach – Weghorst, Beier
Goals: 1-0 Plea (58’ (pen)) 1-1 Weghorst (60’), 2-1 Ngoumou (80’)
Yellow cards: Elvedi, Reitz / Tohumcu, Akpoguma
Attendance: 49,341
