Sports

Monday November 2, 2009

Maicousuel lone strike lifts Hoffenheim above Bayern

BERLIN: Hoffenheim’s Brazil striker Maicosuel hit a first-half goal to seal a 1-0 win over Freiburg yesterday which put his side fifth in the Bundesliga and knocked Bayern Munich down into sixth.

Hoffenheim’s hot-shot striker Vedad Ibisevic set up the goal when he played the Brazilian into the penalty area and the South American lobbed his shot out of reach of Freiburg goalkeeper Simon Pouplin on 39 minutes.

The result drops Freiburg down to 15th in the table while on Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen went back to the top of the Bundesliga despite come-back kings Schalke 04 forcing a late equaliser for the second match running to seal a 2-2 draw.

With eight minutes remaining, Leverkusen were cruising to a 2-0 win, but goals from Schalke forwards Kevin Kuranyi on 83 minutes and Vicente Sanchez on 88 sealed the draw, but Bayer are still a point clear of second-placed Bremen.

Leverkusen’s 64-year-old coach Jupp Heynckes brushed off the effects of ‘flu to see teenager Tony Kroos and Germany striker Steffan Kiessling put the visitors 2-0 ahead at the break.

But the Royal Blues, whose coach Felix Magath said on Saturday he may have to sell some of their stars – including both Vicente and Kuranyi – to reduce their substantial debt, fought back to stay fourth in the league.

“At the end, we were all out on our feet,” admitted Bayer goalkeeper Rene Adler.“We really gave away two points at the end, no question.”

Werder Bremen are second after attacking midfielder Aaron Hunt hit two second-half goals to help his side come from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw at Nuremberg.

Hamburg were robbed of the chance of going top of the German league for the second consecutive match after mid-table Borussia Moen­chengladbach poached a shock 3-2 away victory as Canadian striker Rob Friend hit an 82nd-minute winner.

Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel boosted his chances of holding onto his job after his side held Bayern Munich to a scoreless draw in Stuttgart.

The home side had been dumped out of the German Cup last Tuesday at Greuther Fuerth, their fifth consecutive defeat, but the ex-Bayern Munich midfielder received a vote of confidence from his board on Wednesday.

And having broken his losing streak, Babbel’s fortunes appear to be looking up.

Defending champions Wolfsburg threw away a 2-0 lead after two goals from Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins only for mid-table Mainz to produce a spirited comeback. In the closing minutes defender Tim Hoogland hit an equaliser to seal a 3-3 draw for a share of the spoils.

Cologne are hovering above the relegation zone after their 1-0 defeat at home to midtable Hanover.

Hertha Berlin remain rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga after they were beaten 2-0 by Borussia Dortmund on Friday and remain four points adrift of the rest of the league. — AFP

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll