Vorah claim points for Hoffenheim

Posted On Sunday, 30th January 2011

By Akyereko Emmanuel

Vorsah mobbed by teammates after scoring powerful header

Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah handed Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli his first maximum points in charge as Hoffenheim boss at Schalke on Saturday.

The Hoffs travelled to the Veltins Arena with a winless streak stretching from November last year, their only win in their last eight games in all competitions coming from a 4-0 trouncing of Frankfurt.

Pezzaiuoli, who took charge of the club at the beginning of January left out Ghana striker Prince Tagoe from his first team but handed a debut to Dutch striker Ryan Babel who joined them from Liverpool. Schalke’s squad however looked exhausted.

The visitors jet off to the perfect start at the when Ghana World Cup star Isaac Vorsah glanced home a header to put them into a lead fourth-minute lead from Sejad Salihovic’s corner.

Hoffenheim bossed the entire game from the start and could have double their advantage had striker Salihovic maintain his composure in front of goal.

He dragged wide his effort after a superb one-two play with new man Ryan Babel.

After the break the Bosnian again wasted a gilt-edged opportunity, this time fluffing his lines after fellow countryman Vedad Ibisevic had won the ball on the right and picked him out in the centre.

The remainder of the second half delivered little in the way of further chances, with Schalke particularly harmless in the final third despite the roaring home support.

Those roars had turned to boos by the end as the Royal Blues failed to back up their mammoth performance in the DFB Cup with victory in the league.

Hoffenheim will be glad to get their first win of 2011, one which lifts them to within four points of the European places.

Vorsah was named man-of-the-match.