Berlin: Borussia Dortmund went joint-bottom of the Bundesliga on Sunday after Hanover 96 scored two late goals to draw 2-2 at Freiburg as Germany’s top flight breaks for winter.
The Bundesliga starts its winter break leaving last season’s runners-up Dortmund level on 15 points and a goal difference of minus eight alongside last-placed Freiburg.
Goals by striker Mike Frantz and defender Marc-Oliver Kempf had put hosts Freiburg 2-0 up at their Schwarzwald Stadium before Hanover scored twice in the last 10 minutes to claim a point.
Midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt struck on 83 minutes before their Spanish star Joselu netted in the third minute of added time to deny Freiburg their first win since the start of November.
Earlier on Sunday, Hertha Berlin defender John Brooks gave away his side’s first two goals in their 5-0 thrashing at home by Hoffenheim.
The USA international turned the ball into his own net on 23 minutes at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, then gave away a penalty three minutes later. Bosnia midfielder Sejad Salihovic drilled home the spot-kick and things went from bad to worse for Hertha.
Brooks’ teammate Nico Schulz was unlucky to concede a penalty after nudging Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck on 39 minutes and Salihovic converted his second spot-kick.
Hertha capitulated in the second half as Sven Schipplock added to the hosts’ misery when he walked the ball into an empty net on 74 minutes after a Hoffenheim counter-attack. Germany international Sebastian Rudy then came off the Hoffenheim bench to grab their fifth goal.
“It was a black day for us,” admitted Schulz, while Hertha coach Jos Luhukay said his side had contributed to their own downfall.
“We really helped them, you only have to look at the goals,” said the Dutchman.
This was seventh-placed Hoffenheim’s biggest victory in their seven years in Germany’s top flight while Hertha, 13th, have now leaked nine goals in their last two games after drawing 4-4 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
