Super Eagles forward Gift Orban scored a goal for Hoffenheim in their 3-1 victory over Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion on Sunday.

Hoffenheim, who have been struggling in the Bundesliga, returned to league action against Werder Bremen with Orban starting in a rare opportunity up front. The Nigerian striker, who joined Hoffenheim from Lyon in January seeking more playing time, had seen limited action with only two prior starts at his new club.

The match got off to a tough start for Hoffenheim when defender Stanley Nsoki accidentally scored an own goal in the 7th minute, giving Werder Bremen a 1-0 lead. However, Hoffenheim quickly responded with an equalizer in the 28th minute, as Anton Stach capitalized on a brilliant assist from Andrej Kramaric. Just before the break, Hoffenheim took the lead, thanks to a goal from Tom Bischof.

Orban was relatively quiet in the first half, having limited chances in the attacking third. In the second half, he became more involved and, despite receiving a yellow card for his efforts, his persistence paid off. In the 63rd minute, Orban showcased his poacher’s instinct, connecting with a precise cross from Kramaric and finishing with a clean strike to give Hoffenheim a 3-1 advantage.

That goal proved to be the decisive one, as Hoffenheim held on to win. Orban was substituted in the 76th minute after seeming to pick up a knock during the match.

With this performance, Orban earned the trust of Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer and will be hopeful for more starts and playing time in the coming weeks.

Hoffenheim now sit 15th in the Bundesliga, seven points clear of the relegation zone. They will be aiming to build on this win as they prepare for their next fixture against Stuttgart at the PreZero Arena.