Hertha gets dramatic win, Leipzig draws on Bundesliga debut

Posted August 28, 2016 7:00 am

By CIARAN FAHEY

Freiburg's Nicolas Hoefler, left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and SC Freiburg in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) - Julian Schieber scored the second of two injury-time goals to give Hertha Berlin a dramatic 2-1 win over promoted Freiburg, while Leipzig secured a 2-2 draw on its Bundesliga debut Sunday.

Freiburg captain Nicolas Hoefler thought he'd salvaged a draw for his side on its return to the Bundesliga after one season away when he scored with a header from a corner in the 93rd minute.

But there was still time for Schieber's winner from a difficult angle after Genki Haraguchi's initial effort was blocked.

Hertha's Vladimir Darida opened the scoring against his former side in the 61st. Darida, who joined after Freiburg's relegation in 2015, fired inside the right post after some clever interplay between Haraguchi and Vedad Ibisevic, who laid the ball back.

"In the end, we're just happy to win the thing," Ibisevic said.

High temperatures played a role as both sides struggled for chances. Sky Germany reported that the on-pitch temperature reached 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit) during the first half.

Later Sunday, Marcel Sabitzer struck in the last minute to earn a 2-2 draw for Leipzig at Hoffenheim.

Mark Uth looked to have won it for the home side when he scored in the 83rd after a breakaway led by captain Sebastian Rudy. But Benno Schmitz crossed for Sabitzer at the far post to claim Leipzig's first point.

"I'm very happy that we could still take a point," said Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl, who suggested the league was better off with his side. "We showed that we can be an enrichment."

Lukas Rupp opened the scoring in the 55th for Hoffenheim, firing home the loose ball with the aid of a deflection after a corner. Three minutes later, Leipzig captain Dominik Kaiser equalized when Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann let his strike slip through his fingers.

Leipzig's ascent to the Bundesliga has been controversial among opposing fans who object to its backing by energy-drink manufacturer Red Bull, which purchased the playing rights of fifth-tier side SSV Markranstaedt and rebranded the club in 2009.

Bankrolled with funding not normally available to a fifth-tier club, Leipzig quickly secured promotion through the lower leagues. After two seasons in the second division, Leipzig finished runner-up behind Freiburg last season to clinch one of the two automatic promotion places.

Hertha Berlin's scorer Julian Schieber, center bottom, and his teammates celebrate their side's 2nd goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and SC Freiburg in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) The Associated Press

Freiburg's Nicolas Hoefler, front, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and SC Freiburg in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) The Associated Press

Freiburg's Amir Abrashi, left, and Christian Guenter, right, look on as Berlin's last minute scorer Julian Schieber celebrates after the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and SC Freiburg in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) The Associated Press

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