Oehrl spot-kick earns Braunschweig win
Braunschweig - Eintracht Braunschweig ended 2013 on a high note, becoming only the second side this season to prevent 1899 Hoffenheim from scoring as they clinched a narrow 1-0 win on home soil courtesy of a Torsten Oehrl spot kick.
Lions hold firm
The hosts began brightly and were peppering Jens Grahl’s goal with early efforts as Omar Elabdellaoui chipped over in a one-on-one situation before the offside flag ruled out Oehrl's first effort. With 1899 struggling to get to grips with their livewire opponents, Grahl did well to deny Orhan Ademi, but could do little about the opener. Sven Schipplock was penalised for a foul inside the area approaching the half-hour mark, allowing Oehrl to net for a second game in succession, this time from the penalty spot, to send Eintracht in at the break with a one-goal lead.
Sejad Salihovic’s long-range effort was as close as Hoffenheim came to scoring in the first-half and things didn’t look like changing after the restart, as Grahl produce a inspired reflex save to prevent Ademi finding the net. With an hour played though, it was only a goal line clearance from Mirko Boland that kept Jannik Vestergaard from leveling the scores, a chance which momentarily gave Hoffenheim a greater impetus in proceedings.
Yet Braunschweig still seemed to be a step ahead of 1899, as Domi Kumbela almost made an immediate impact off the bench by heading just wide of the target from a corner. The visitors were handed a lifeline late one when Timo Perthel received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, but despite the man advantage, Hoffenheim couldn’t produce the final ball to unlock their hosts, who who stay bottom following 1 FC Nürnberg's draw with FC Schalke 04.
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