Veteran Kalou spot on for Hertha
BERLIN: Ivory Coast veteran Salomon Kalou rescued Hertha Berlin with a penalty at the second attempt in the 1-1 draw at Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
Hosts Freiburg took the lead in the 52nd minute when the video assistant referee (VAR) confirmed Christian Guenter had been fouled in the penalty area and Janik Haberer drilled home from the spot.
At the other end, Kalou fired his first penalty effort over the bar in the 77th minute after Berlin midfielder Arne Maier was brought down in the area.
However just four minutes later, Kalou took his chance to make amends by converting a spot kick after a second penalty was awarded to Berlin.
The VAR spotted Hertha’s Davie Selke had been fouled in the area and ex-Chelsea striker Kalou made no mistake this time.
“I said to our manager, ‘I think we’re jinxed’ after Salomon missed the first penalty, but then he had the courage to take the second one and convert it,” said Hertha coach Pal Dardai.
Later on Sunday, 20-year-old defender Felix Uduokhai struck with a 91st-minute header to seal Wolfsburg’s dramatic 1-1 draw at home to fourthplaced Hoffenheim.
It was the centreback’s first Bundesliga goal for Wolfsburg in nine games since joining in July.
The late goal cancelled out a penalty by Germany midfielder Kerem Demirbay which had put Hoffenheim ahead.
Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann saved an early penalty from Maximilian Arnold after the VAR spotted Divock Origi was brought down in the area.
The result means Swiss coach Martin Schmidt has now drawn all five games in charge since replacing Andries Jonker in September to leave the club 14th.
Earlier, Cologne and Werder Bremen fought to a goalless draw which kept both clubs in the relegation places.