Valiant Hoffenheim battle back

After just one win in nine games, Hoffenheim were desperate to build on their victory against Hannover 96 in their last outing at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, but things did not go as planned for the home side in the first half.

Despite good chances for the home side on 12 minutes through Vedad Ibisevic, and then on 24 minutes through Carlos Eduardo, it was the away side that took the lead on 31 minutes; after Per Nilsson was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty box, Filip Daems stroked Gladbach into a 1-0 advantage from the spot.

Things unfortunately got worse for 1899 on 51 minutes. Levels crossed the ball into the box, Bobadilla heading down, and the ballpushed in by Roberto Colautti, his fifth goal of the season, despite calls of offside from the Hoffenheim defenders; Gladbach 2-0 up.

A 2-0 deficit was harsh on 1899, but it didn't take them long to get back in the game; on 69 minutes, Bosnian talisman Vedad Ibisevic was in the right place at the right time to get Hoffenheim back in the game after good work from Eduardo.

After persistent pressure from 1899, Gladbach finally cracked; on 89 minutes having been awarded a penalty after a handball from first half Gladbach scorer Daems, Hoffenheim hero Carlos Eduardo stepped up to score and grab a morale-boosting point for 1899.

The draw means that Hoffenheim still maintain an outside chance for UEFA Europa League qualification.

Quotes

Ralf Rangnick
You could see that some players couldn't believe that they had back from two goals behind. In the second half we had to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Having gone 2-0 down so early in the second half, we knew it would be tricky to come back, but somehow they pulled it out the bag. It was important for moral to come away with a draw.

Michael Frontzeck
After we went 2-0 up we were still keen to grab a third goal, but we let our opponents back in the game. Before the game would have been glad with a point, but a win today was possible, had we taken our chances. I am incredibly disappointed with just a draw.

Tobias Levels
The way we gave the game away is naturally very annoying. But that's football for you. We should have scored the third when we had the chance.

Vedad Ibisevic
For the spectators it was a great game. The goal that we gave away in the first half was unnecessary on our part, and made us lose confidence in ourselves. At the end though after the equaliser, you have to pleased. The team came back fantastically, and proved that our moral is still. I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks now.

Boris Vukcevic
In the first half we showed that we can fight, and we had chances. But ultimately we have to be pleased with the draw.

Sejad Salihovic
If you a play a game at home, you have to win at all costs. The guys came back superbly from 2-0 down, and I'm happy for Vedad for scoring his second goal in two games.

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