TSG Hoffenheim cruises past third-division relegation team Aue

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim easily cleared the first hurdle in the cup against FC Erzgebirge Aue, which was relegated from the third division. The Europa League participant secured a commanding 4-0 (3-0) victory over the fifth-place team in the Northeast Regional League. In front of 8,199 spectators at the Erzgebirgsstadion, Patrick Wimmer (6th minute) put the visitors ahead, before Wouter Burger (17th) and Wimmer again (45+1) extended the lead. After the break, Max Moerstedt (63rd) scored to seal the final score. 

Hoffenheim, who started Luca Philipp in goal instead of captain and national team goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and also faced the cup match without striker Fisnik Asllani (recovery training), came under pressure right from the first minute. Aue’s Willi Kamm tackled new signing Mats Rots, and the Erzgebirge side vehemently demanded a penalty—to no avail. The first-division side’s response wasn’t long in coming. Wimmer (5th minute) took a shot from 11 meters out, forcing Aue’s veteran Martin Männel—who was starting in place of homegrown player Max Uhlig—to make his first save. A minute later, the Austrian hammered the ball into the net from close range on the right for an early lead.

Wimmer’s brace

Then a foul by Ozan Kabak on Aue’s captain Marcel Bär in midfield went unpunished, Burger (17th) capitalized on Wimmer’s through ball and slotted it home to make it 2–0 for Hoffenheim. Aue still played well, quickly breaking through the midfield, though the final pass was often just too imprecise. As a result, there hadn’t been a single shot on goal even after half an hour. But Hoffenheim also had their chances: Tim Lemperle (36') missed the chance to seal the deal at 3–0 when, from the left side of the box, he shot straight at Männel. Then, following a botched defensive play by Aue, the ball landed at Wimmer’s feet, and he scored from 11 meters to make it 3–0 (45’+1). 

After the break, the game lost some of its pace. TSG coach Christian Ilzer made several substitutions after an hour. Moerstedt then scored two minutes after coming on to make it 4–0, calmly slotting the ball past Männel.