Leverkusen leave it late to stretch run

Leverkusen ......... 2

Hoffenheim ......... 1

MUNICH – Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen scored twice late in the game with Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick to earn a 2-1 comeback win over Hoffenheim yesterday and edge closer to the league title.

Leverkusen, unbeaten in 39 matches across all competitions this season, are on 73 points with seven games. Bayern Munich, who face Borussia Dortmund later on Saturday, are second on 60.

A day after Coach Xabi Alonso announced he would be staying on despite interest from major European clubs, Leverkusen, battling for three trophies this season,got off to a lacklustre start despite controlling the pace of the game. Their attacks were stifled and the finishing lacked precision with Hoffenheim’s Maximilian

Beier silencing the home crowd in the 33rd minute after breaking clear and beating keeper Lukas Hradecky from close range.

The hosts piled on the pressure after the break and carved out several chances but they were repeatedly denied by keeper Oliver Baumann, who pulled off a spectacular double save in the 76th. With time running out Alonso brought on forward Borja Iglesias, who rattled the crossbar four minutes later with the hosts constantly in Hoffenheim’s box.

The pressure paid off in the 88th minute when Andrich stabbed in the equaliser from a Florian Wirtz cross.

Schick volleyed in to complete the comeback in stoppage time, confirming Leverkusen’s never-say-die attitude this season. Alonso’s team had come from two goals in both Europa League round of 16 legs against Qarabag this month to advance 5-4 on aggregate.