Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 5:36 PM• Sam Vreeswijk • Last update: 17:45

1. FC Union Berlin suffered an expensive defeat on Saturday afternoon in the battle for a Champions League ticket. The team of trainer Urs Fischer lost 4-2 to a visit to TSG Hoffenheim, which is certain of retention due to the victory. Union’s only goal was scored by Danilho Doekhi. Despite the defeat, Union is still fourth, although number five SC Freiburg has the same number of points. At the same time, Hertha BSC conceded a goal against VfL Bochum deep in stoppage time, making the first relegation since 2012 a fact.

TSG Hoffenheim – 1. FC Union Berlin 4-2
Union started, as could be expected, with Doekhi and Sheraldo Becker in the base. Becker has already scored eleven times in the Bundesliga this season, making him club top scorer for the club from Berlin. On the side of Hoffenheim, former Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg, who is rented by the German club from OGC Nice, was on the bench. Angeliño (former NAC Breda and PSV) was in the base.

In the first chance there was a lack of great opportunities, but Hoffenheim in particular was quite effective. After Kevin Akpoguma shot just wide from distance, the home team took the lead halfway through the first half. Defender Diogo Leite wanted to head the ball back to goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow, but missed the ball completely. Ihlas Bebou was able to intercept the ball, outplayed Rønnow and scored: 1-0.

More than ten minutes later it also became 2-0, and again it was Leite who made an error. The defender fouled Christoph Baumgartner in his own penalty area, after which the awarded penalty was used by Andrej Kramaric. Just before the break, Union did something back via Doekhi, who was able to head in a corner via the bottom bar. The fifth Bundesliga goal for the Dutchman this season.

In the second half, the visitors were close to 2-2 several times, especially through Becker. After ten minutes in the second half, a drop kick from the attacker just flew over, moments later he failed face to face with goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. In the final phase, Becker was also close to a goal with a cross that almost flew in, but Baumann saved the ball. Just before the end, Kramaric decided the game by tapping in after excellent preparatory work by Munas Dabbur: 3-1. It would not stop there, because Aïssa Laïdouni made it 3-2 in injury time, after which Dabbur set the margin back to two. In this way, Hoffenheim secured another year of Bundesliga football, while Union missed out on expensive points.

Hertha BSC – VfL Bochum 1-1
Hertha seemed to be on its way to a 1-0 win for a long time, so that retention would remain a possibility until the last day. However, that dream was brutally disrupted in minute 90 + 4 by Keven Schlotterbeck’s equalizer. Both teams had chances for the opening goal in the first half, but Philipp Hofmann (Bochum) and Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha), among others, lacked the necessary luck. Lukebakio also saw another goal disallowed for a foul in the run-up to his goal. After the break, the redeeming goal fell, when Lucas Tousart managed to hit the mark from a corner kick. Hertha thus seemed to seize its last straw, but deep into injury time, Schlotterbeck sent the home team into mourning.