Hoffenheim 2 - 1 VfB Stuttgart - Rudy boosts Hoffenheim to victory

Posted Sunday, February 15, 2015 by PA

Former Stuttgart defender Sebastian Rudy left his former club rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table with his late goal earning Hoffenheim a 2-1 Baden-Wurttemberg derby win.

Roberto Firmino gave Markus Gisdol's men the lead, but Gotoku Sakai's deflected effort allowed Huub Stevens' men to level.

Hoffenheim tried harder to win it and they succeeded with practically the last kick of the game to pick up their first win of 2015 and leave Stuttgart still searching for theirs, and looking up at the rest of the division for at least another week.

It was quite clear from the way the game started that neither of these sides had tasted victory in a long time.

Hoffenheim had lost their first three games of the new year while Stuttgart had to go back even further - to mid-December - to find their last win, even though they had picked up one point in 2015.

The defences were therefore on top with mistakes scattered around, but no real chances presenting themselves.

That changed after half an hour when Hoffenheim gained the lead with Firmino scoring on the rebound after David Abraham's shot was blocked by Christian Gentner.

Stuttgart had to risk something if they were not to be beaten again and finally the game opened up.

They levelled in the 39th minute when Sakai's shot took a deflection on its way past Oliver Baumann.

It was back to square one, then, for both sides, who reverted to how they had been playing prior to the goals and keeping things tight.

Firmino had a good chance to put Hoffenheim in front just short of the hour mark, but Sven Ulreich was alert to make the save.

It seemed like the Brazilian was the only player who could create something and change the outcome of a game which seemed destined to end all square with another shot missing the target and then a pass setting up Anthony Modeste, whose shot was saved by Ulreich.

Andreas Beck nearly put Hoffenheim in front with his shot deflecting just wide, but they had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time before Rudy decided it.

Kevin Volland took advantage of a defensive mistake to set up the Hoffenheim defender, who sent his shot through Ulreich's legs to clinch victory.