Hoffenheim saves point
February 20, 2010
Hoffenheim and Borussia Moenchengladbach played out a 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga's Friday fixture. The two sides delivered an exciting, offensive match, but it was also littered with mistakes.
Hoffenheim started strong, but couldn't take the lead in front of their home crowd; Demba Ba, Carlos Eduardo, and Vedad Ibisevic all let excellent scoring chances go begging.
However, a controversial handball by Hoffenheim defender Per Nilsson led to the opening goal for Moenchengladbach. The referee decided to award a penalty, and showed Nilsson the yellow card, although replays showed that the Swede's transgression actually took place outside the penalty area.
Moenchengladbach's Belgian captain Filip Daems made no mistake from the spot and put his team ahead. The visitors added another shortly after half time through Israeli striker Roberto Colautti.
But in the last twenty minutes Hoffenheim, having lost their way after their strong start, came back to life. On 69 minutes, Carlos Eduardo carved through the Moenchengladbach back line and provided Vedad Ibisevic with a chance that was just too good to turn down.
Then, with just moments remaining, Gladbach captain Filip Daems blocked a cross with his arm in the penalty area, conceding a penalty for the hosts. Carlos Eduardo stepped up and slotted the ball home, rescuing the draw and a valuable Bundesliga point for Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim and Moenchengladbach remain glued together in the mid-table, in ninth and tenth positions, with 28 points apiece.
When Saturday comes
Five Bundesliga fixtures are scheduled to kick off at half past three on Saturday here in Germany. Championship hopefuls Bayern Munich have what should be an easy away match against Nuremberg.
Stuttgart will look to get back to winning ways in Cologne, after Hamburg brought their five-game win-streak to an end last weekend.
Fourth-placed Hamburg, meanwhile, will play host to Eintracht Frankfurt, a team that has been punching above its weight this season.
Borussia Dortmund should be clear favorites at home against struggling Hanover, while eighth-placed Mainz, perhaps the overachievers of the season so far, play host to Bochum.
msh/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Nigel Tandy