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Berlin (dpa) - Max Kruse's early goal at the comeback after an almost three-month injury break was not enough for the Iron to win.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim won 1: 1 (1: 1) at 1. FC Union after last week's European Cup frustration in the Bundesliga.

The seventh goal of the season by Kruse (9th minute) with a converted penalty, the Kraichgauer equalized on Sunday with the help of Berlin, Nico Schlotterbeck hit his own net (29th).

After the 23rd matchday, Union is in seventh place in the table with 34 points.

Hoffenheim is eleventh with 27 points.

After Kruse had returned to the squad last weekend in the Eiserne's 1-0 win in Freiburg, but not yet returned to the field, he was allowed to start this time.

«He trained very well.

He worked a long time to come back, ”said trainer Urs Fischer, explaining the commitment of his prominent professional 86 days after the muscle bundle he suffered in the derby against Hertha BSC.

And the ex-national player immediately took on responsibility, it was his twelfth goal participation this season.

Union again showed the well-known starter quality: TSG defense chief Florian Grillitsch awkwardly took the breaching Union captain Christopher Trimmel off his feet - Kruse heaved the due penalty into the top right corner of the goal.

The 32-year-old only failed once in his 19 shots from the point.

For Union it was the ninth goal in the first quarter of an hour of this season.

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But not the hosts, but the guests, who were angry after the Europa League-Aus, felt more incited by Kruse's goal.

The Hoffenheimers, who still lacked a number of players, ran at high speed towards the Berliner Tor.

TSG had three great equal opportunities within a minute: First Union defender Marvin Friedrich cleared the goal line after a lift from Ihlas Bebou, then goalkeeper Loris Karius defused a long-range shot from Grillitsch, and Christoph Baumgartner aimed past from the best position.

After Liverpool loan Karius, who was again at Union for the still ailing regular goalkeeper Andreas Luthe, cleared again against Bebou, the 1: 1 fell.

Andrej Kramaric, who returned to the starting line-up, brought the ball sharply in front of the Union goal in his 150th Bundesliga game, while Karius came close in an aerial duel with Bebou.

But the ball jumped from Schlotterbeck's shoulder into the box: the first Union own goal this season.

After the break, the hosts took a few more offensive actions, but Hoffenheim retained the initiative for long periods.

Neither team worked for a long time, the defensive rows acted disciplined and determined.

Bebou shot past the far corner (75th).

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After the long break, Kruse of course still lacked the necessary sharpness and security to decisively liven up the Berlin game.

His performance was over after 74 minutes.

At least Unions held a positive home series, because Friedrich cleared again on the goal line (80th).

And Pavel Kaderabek's goal had previously been offside (82nd).

Berlin's An der Alten Försterei have now been unbeaten for eleven home games.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210228-99-629050 / 2

Squad 1. FC Union

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Schedule 1. FC Union

TSG Hoffenheim squad

Schedule TSG Hoffenheim