BERLIN, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Hoffenheim topped Group L after easing past Gent 4-1 in the last round of the Europa League group stage on Thursday.
Hoffenheim was already through ahead of the encounter but the hosts still took business seriously and pressed Gent into defence from the kick-off.
Despite the domination, Hoffenheim had to wait until the 20th minute to get its first attempt on target as Munas Dabbur tested Gent goalkeeper Davy Roef.
With the subsequent corner, Hoffenheim broke the deadlock as youngster Maximilian Beier nodded home his first Europa League goal.
Gent wasn't able to respond while Hoffenheim kept it bowling and doubled its advantage five minutes later as Dennis Geiger's through ball allowed Robert Skov to round Roef for the 2-0 lead.
The visitors from Belgium had its first chance with 33 minutes gone when Osman Bukari had just Hoffenheim goalkeeper Philipp Pentke to beat but failed to do so from a promising position.
After the restart, Hoffenheim picked up where they left off and made it 3-0 in the 59th minute when Beier wrapped up his brace with a hammer from the edge of the box.
Hoffenheim ceased its offensive actions but for all that Gent wasn't able to reduce the arrears.
Instead, the "TSG" added another goal to its lead after substitute Andrej Kramaric poked home Beier's good build-up work from very close range at the far post in the 64th minute.
The hosts continued on the front foot and were unlucky in the 68th minute when Dabbur's chip rattled off the woodwork.
Gent eventually scored its consolation with assistance from Kasim Adams' misplaced pass. Tim Kleindienst wasn't able to beat Pentke but Nurio Fortuna benefitted from the rebound and scored with a sideways scissor-kick in the 81st minute.
With the victory, Hoffenheim top Group L with 16 points followed by Crvena Zvezda (11 points), Slovan Liberec (7 points) and Gent (0 points). Enditem
