Hoffenheim 2 - 1 Hertha BSC Berlin: Hertha Berlin drop to fourth after defeat to Hoffenheim

Posted Sunday, April 17, 2016 by PA

Hoffenheim continued their resurgence under Julian Nagelsmann with a 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin which sees the Old Lady drop out of the top three for the first time in 2016.

Niklas Stark put Hertha in front, but goals from Fabian Schar and Mark Uth turned the game around and took Hoffenheim seven points clear of relegation, as Berlin dropped to fourth.

Vedad Ibisevic led Hoffenheim's rise to the top of the Bundesliga in their first season in the top flight in 2008, with 18 goals in 17 games before a knee injury ruled him out for the rest of the season and Hoffenheim slid down the table.

He was back in Sinsheim having recently rediscovered some of that form for Hertha, but Oliver Baumann twice denied him an opening goal inside the first seven minutes.

Uth is the latest striker bidding to emulate the Bosnian and he had Hoffenheim's first chance only to be denied by Rune Jarstein and then defender John Anthony Brooks.

Hertha took the lead in the 27th minute when Stark headed in a corner from close range, but Hoffenheim's reply came just five minutes later.

Nadiem Amiri's free-kick was met by Schar, who headed the hosts level.

Salomon Kalou went close to restoring Hertha's lead five minutes before half-time, but his deflected shot came back into play off the post

Hertha made the better start in the second half and Brooks perhaps should have done better with a free header which he sent over the crossbar, while Hoffenheim's first chance of the half was wasted by Uth.

Amiri went close with a 15-yard effort before Uth headed in from close range to give Hoffenheim the lead with just five minutes left and they held on to a win which should secure their place in the Bundesliga next season.