BERLIN, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two goals from Adam Hlozek, one in each half, gave Hoffenheim a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday, securing their first win of the 2024-25 Europa League season.
Hoffenheim pressed aggressively from the start and came close to scoring in the 18th minute when Andrej Kramaric fired wide from the edge of the area. Four minutes later, they broke the deadlock. Valentin Gendrey's cut-back found an unmarked Hlozek, who struck into the top left-hand corner from ten meters.
Kramaric continued to threaten Dynamo's defense but was unable to beat goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan in a one-on-one situation around the half-hour mark.
The second half saw a similar pattern, with Hoffenheim dominating possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances, while Dynamo Kyiv failed to build any real attacking momentum.
The hosts doubled their advantage on the hour mark. Kramaric exchanged passes with Hlozek, who calmly slotted the ball past Bushchan to complete his brace.
"We wanted to press more because we knew that Kyiv are very dominant in the league; they have a lot of possession and they don't press very much. We aimed to catch them on the wrong foot or force them into situations they are not used to. The plan was to dominate with possession and chances, and it worked well, especially in the first half," said Hoffenheim coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.
"It's a great achievement for us to be here. We're playing against teams with some of the best players in the world. We're preparing for every game and doing our best to improve. But you have to understand that our country isn't just about football," said Dynamo coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.
The win moves Hoffenheim up to 11th, while Dynamo Kyiv drops to 35th. ■
