Union Berlin Suffers Defeat at Home Against Hoffenheim
The 1. FC Union Berlin fell to a 4-2 loss against 1899 Hoffenheim at the Alte Försterei stadium in a Bundesliga match on matchday three.
The home side narrowly avoided an early setback, with Touré failing to beat Rönnow from close range in the fifth minute. Union Berlin almost took the lead themselves in the 19th minute, but Baumann intervened to deny Burke’s attempt, diverting the ball away from Bernardo on the goal line.
Hoffenheim then capitalized on a penalty awarded in the first minute of added time, with Kramaric converting after Touré was penalized for an elbow in the area. The visitors extended their lead shortly after, as Asllani headed home from a Lemperle cross in the third minute of added time, concluding the first half.
Union Berlin quickly reduced the deficit just after the restart; Ansah bundled the ball over the line following a series of deflections from a throw-in in the 49th minute. However, Hoffenheim swiftly restored their two-goal advantage with Asllani scoring again, following a failed clearance by Khedira in the 51st minute.
The home side continued to press, with Rothe finding the back of the net from a goalmouth scramble following a corner in the 71st minute. However, Rothe would soon be dismissed, receiving a red card for a foul on Lemperle in the 82nd minute, who subsequently converted the resulting penalty with a chip. Despite a spirited fight until the final whistle, Union Berlin were unable to overcome the deficit.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Freiburg defeated Stuttgart 3-1, Mainz lost 1-0 to an away side, Wolfsburg and Köln drew 3-3 and Heidenheim were defeated 2-0 to Dortmund.