Leipzig Down Hoffenheim To Go Third In Bundesliga

Leipzig down Hoffenheim to go third in Bundesliga (Image Source: IANS)

The Red Bulls: Goals from Lukas Klostermann, Emil Forsberg and Mohamed Simakan secured Leipzig the tenth win of the season after moving 3-1 past Hoffenheim at the 15th round of Bundesliga.

The Red Bulls caught a bright start and pressed the visitors into defense as Xavi's in-swinging corner kick allowed Yussuf Poulsen to unleash the first dangerous header on target with only two minutes played, reports Xinhua.

Poulsen and Xavi kept Hoffenheim's defense busy but couldn't beat goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who was on guard twice.

Leipzig remained active but couldn't break the deadlock at the half-hour mark as Poulsen pulled wide from promising position.

Hoffenheim showed a sign of life moments later as Andrej Kramaric tested Leipzig keeper Janis Blaswich.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Lukas Klostermann latched onto Simakan's deflected shot from very close range.

Leipzig piled on the pressure and should have doubled the lead but Xavi and Christoph Baumgartner remained wasteful in front of the target.

Hoffenheim then leveled the scores through Ozan Kabak, who nodded Robert Skov's pinpoint cross past onrushing Blaswich.

After the restart, Leipzig came out with its guns blazing and started an onslaught but still had to wait until the 66th minute when joker Emil Forsberg slotted home Lois Openda's through ball to grab the 2-1 lead.

The Swede remained in the thick of things and assisted with Leipzig's third goal as Forsberg's cross into the box dropped off the crossbar into the path of Simakan, who poked home the 3-1 to put the victory beyond doubt.