Last-minute drama as leaders Dortmund earn point

Bundesliga leaders Dortmund needed a last-minute free-kick to salvage a point from their 1-1 draw against ten-man Hoffenheim on Sunday, but face a nervous wait to see if they remain top.

With time almost up, Brazil midfielder Antonia de Silva curled in his shot in the 93rd minute and amidst the dramatic scenes Hoffenheim midfielder Sejad Salihovic was sent off as he screamed his protests at the referee.

With second-placed Mainz playing at Leverkusen on Sunday night and just a point separating the two teams, Dortmund now face a nervous wait to see if they will finish the weekend on top.

A single first-half goal from Hoffenheim’s Demba Ba had earlier given them the lead in a tense match in front of 80,000 fans.

In an action packed opening 15 minutes, Hoffenheim took the lead after nine minutes following a pass from Brazilian Luiz Gustavo which found Senegal striker Ba at the far post and he beat Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.

Dortmund were then denied an equaliser in dramatic fashion.

Referee Wolfgang Stark awarded Dortmund a penalty on 15 minutes when Hoffenheim’s Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah handled in the area.

Dortmund’s Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin slammed home the penalty, but Stark demanded the penalty be taken again because a home player had strayed into the area and Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tom Starke saved the second attempt.

The home side laid siege to the Hoffenheim goal, but could not convert their chances until the last minute.

“The draw was earned, we threw everything into the attack to try and get the goal,” said relieved Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

“The repetition of the penalty was crazy, but if I said anything more about the referee I would probably be banned for life.

“There were three or four brutal decisions against us.”

On Saturday, Champions League side Werder Bremen moved up to eighth after their 4-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Peru striker Claudio Pizarro scored the fourth to become the top foreign scorer in Bundesliga history with 134, the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea man passing former Bayern star Giovane Elber.

Hanover are up to third in the table after their 2-1 win over Cologne after Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan netted twice.

The defeat cost Cologne trainer Zvonimir Soldo his job as he was fired on Sunday afternoon, according to reports here.

Freiburg striker Stefan Reisinger scored just four minutes after coming off the bench to score a 60th-minute winner to seal the 2-1 win over Kaiserslautern while Nuremberg also enjoyed a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg.

Schalke are up to 15th after their goalless draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

On Friday, Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal admitted he was disappointed with the Bundesliga champions goalless draw in Hamburg, but insisted his side ‘gave everything they had’.

Bayern are 11th in the table and remain nine points behind Dortmund.