Bayer Leverkusen's dreadful run of form continued as they
slumped to a 3-2 home loss to Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Leverkusen have now lost five home matches in a row in
all competitions and not won in nine, as Sami Hyypia's fourth-placed side
continue to slide towards the UEFA Europa League places.
The hosts could count themselves unlucky, as Omer Toprak
had a late goal - that would have given them a 3-2 lead - wrongly disallowed,
but their defensive frailties were again showed up.
The reverse fixture at Hoffenheim was marred by Stefan
Kiessling's 'ghost goal', in which the forward's header crept in through a hole
in the corner of the net and was controversially allowed to stand.
And Kiessling again came back to haunt Hoffenheim, cancelling
out Sejad Salihovic's early penalty with a 39th-minute goal.
Kevin Volland responded immediately for Markus Gisdol's
side as they took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Simon Rolfes levelled proceedings again, though,
finishing a delightful team move with a curled finish nine minutes into the
second half.
Leverkusen should have been in front only for Toprak -
who followed up his header, which hit the post, and tapped in - to have his
goal chalked off, when it was Kiessling, who did not interfere with play, who
appeared to be offside.
Anthony Modeste then won it at the death for Hoffenheim,
sweeping home Fabian Johnson's cross in the 89th minute, before he checked the
net for holes in ironic celebration.
Leverkusen still sit fourth, but are now seven points
behind the second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
Sunday's other match saw Eintracht Frankfurt win 5-2 at
relegation-threatened Nuremburg.
Just one of the seven goals was scored in the first half,
which also saw Ondrej Petrak substituted for the losers after suffering
suspected concussion and a broken nose.
Tranquillo Barnetta put Frankfurt ahead in the 21st
minute, converting Stefan Aigner's drilled cross.
Aigner also set up the second, scored by Joselu in the
49th minute, and when Alexander Madlung quickly followed that with Frankfurt's
third, the match looked over.
Nuremburg hit back though, with Josip Drmic's 64th-minute
goal added to by an effort from Crystal Palace loanee Jose Campana.
That set up a thrilling final 20 minutes, but a red card
to Nuremburg defender Javier Pinola would swing the match back in Frankfurt's
favour.
Joselu restored Frankfurt's two-goal buffer with two
minutes to play and Vaclav Kadlec wrapped up the win in stoppage time as the
winners moved six points clear of the relegation zone.
Culled from Socccerway
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