In an entertaining Bundesliga encounter on Sunday, Super Eagles invitee Gift Orban set a new benchmark for himself by scoring his first-ever goal for Hoffenheim.
The Nigerian forward’s decisive tap-in helped his team salvage a draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, ensuring they stayed four points clear of the relegation zone, Footballrover reports.
Orban’s strike adds to the excitement surrounding his promising start in Germany’s top flight, but the match itself was filled with drama and missed opportunities.
Hoffenheim’s struggles and Orban’s first Bundesliga goal
Hoffenheim has yet to secure a win so far after European fixtures, with a record of four draws and three losses.
Despite these struggles, they came close to an early breakthrough when Adam Hložek’s thunderous shot hit the crossbar.
The match saw plenty of action, but it was Frankfurt who drew first blood.
After a clumsy foul by Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma in the box, Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike confidently converted the resulting penalty, sending the visitors ahead.
However, Hoffenheim dominated possession in the second half, with Hložek, in particular, looking threatening.
Despite several attempts, the equaliser didn’t come until the 65th minute, when Hložek selflessly assisted Gift Orban, allowing him to score his first Bundesliga goal from close range.
Late drama and Hoffenheim’s valuable point
The game wasn’t finished yet. Andrej Kramarić missed a golden opportunity soon after, hitting the post with an open goal at his mercy.
Frankfurt responded quickly, taking advantage of Hoffenheim’s miss as Ekitike netted their second.
But Hoffenheim wasn’t done, and in injury time, Hložek delivered a stunning volley to secure the point, ensuring that Hoffenheim remains in the fight for Bundesliga survival.
Gift Orban’s first Bundesliga goal was a key moment in a match filled with tension and twists, and his performance will be closely watched as Hoffenheim seeks to turn their fortunes around.
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