Kramarić's spot-kick brace ensures Hoffenheim defeat Dortmund | OneFootball

The PreZero Arena has been been a happy hunting ground for Borussia Dortmund of late, winning on their last five trips to Sinsheim. Today proved different however, as the hosts ran out 2-1 victors courtesy of two Andrej Kramarić penalties.

Hoffenheim started like a house on fire, pinging the ball off the crossbar inside the first six minutes when Tim Lemperle latched onto Wouter Burger's cross. At the other end, Daniel Svensson couldn't keep his headed effort on target for the visitors.

The game's pace slowed down thereafter, with Dortmund next to threaten on a 25th-minute counterattack. Julian Ryerson and Marcel Sabitzer combined to release Fábio Silva, but the pace of the latter's delivery ultimately beat Maxi Beier at the back post. 

Although Gregor Kobel spectacularly denied Andrej Kramarić a minute later, the hosts would take the lead from the penalty spot. A VAR call spotted Niklas Süle's handball three minutes before the break, with Kramarić able to pick out the right corner for 1-0. 

Niko Kovač's side looked more energetic after the interval with Carney Chukwuemeka and Ryerson to the fore. Regardless, Hoffenheim stood firm without possession and eventually looked to their bench on the hour with Prass and Prömel introduced. 

BVB's first alteration included a change up top as Silva made way for Serhou Guirassy. However, next to go close for the Ruhrpott side was Daniel Svensson. The Swede perhaps would have at least tested Baumann had Ozan Kabak not intervened. 

Further changes came from Dortmund as young Mathis Albert and Samuele Ignacio came into the fray. The visitors had complete control of the flow by this stage, but still lacked the killer blow in the final third, although that would soon change. 

In the 87th-minute, Ramy Bensebaini found Guirassy on the edge of the box. The clinical Guinean marksman needed one touch to get it out of his feet and rifle it inside the left post for parity. Regardless, another twist lay in the tale for Dortmund. 

A second VAR review resulted in an identical penalty call, this time against Ryerson. As was the case in the first half, Kramarić delivered with an air of ice-cool composure. Convincingly beating Kobel and crucially keeping their top-four pursuit alive.