Bayern pulls off injury-time draw in Berlin

Robert Lewandowski struck in the seventh minute of injury time for Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to draw at Hertha Berlin 1-1 and avoid to its second defeat yesterday.

Lewandowski rifled in the ball after Arjen Robben's effort was blocked on the line, setting off celebrations cut short amid initial confusion over whether the goal stood.

Hertha had long been calling for the final whistle — five minutes of injury time were indicated — but Bayern's last chance came when Peter Pekarik fouled Kingsley Coman on the edge of the penalty area. Thiago Alcantara sent the ball in for Robben to shoot. Lewandowski's goal was eventually confirmed.

"A game lasts until the referee blows the whistle," Hertha coach Pal Dardai said. "We're disappointed. A win would not have been undeserved."

It looked like Vedad Ibisevic's first-half strike was going to be enough for Hertha to end its losing streak to Bayern with a hardfought win.

The striker ended his 717minute goal-drought to fire the home side ahead in the 21st minute when he was first to Marvin Plattenhardt's free kick and beat Manuel Neuer at the near post.

Bayern, which routed Arsenal 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, dominated but found it hard to penetrate Hertha's hard-working defense. The home side remained compact, committed, and motivated.

Carlo Ancelotti's side increased the pressure as the second half progressed but Bayern was forced from left to right and back again, occasionally sending in crosses that Rune Jarstein picked out or his defenders headed away and blocked until Lewandowski finally broke through. BORUSSIA DORTMUND WOLFSBURG 0 MAINZ 0, W. BREMEN 2 HOFFENHEIM STADT 0 2, 3,

Almost 25,000 Dortmund fans were prevented from attending the Lukasz Piszczek show. The Westfalenstadion's south stand was closed due to fan trouble at previous games.

Some fans held protests against the German soccer federation's decision, while Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said playing without the south stand was "like football without a ball."

Those attending saw a promising start but it was a Wolfsburg player who scored first, albeit at the wrong end when Jeffrey Bruma headed Piszczek's flick past his own goalkeeper.

Piszczek, a defender, claimed a goal of his own right after the interval, heading in a cross from Ousmane Dembele, and he returned the favor to effectively seal the result before the hourmark.

Bremen needed a win to ease the pressure on Alexander Nouri after four straight defeats since the winter break.

The unmarked Serge Gnabry headed the early opener inside the far post from a corner and Thomas Delaney doubled the lead with a brilliant free kick minutes later.

Delaney was later taken to a hospital with suspected concussion, the only black mark on the afternoon for Bremen. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 0, INGOLSTADT 2

Ingolstadt scored early then Frankfurt's David Abraham was sent off for a studs-up challenge into Dario Lezcano's stomach.

The home side was given a lifeline when Ingolstadt 'keeper Martin Hansen conceded a penalty, but he saved it, and Makoto Hasebe crashed the rebound off the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

Ingolstadt's Mathew Leckie earned a penalty at the other end, and it became 2-0, but Leckie was sent off late for a similar challenge to Abraham's. DARM

Two goals from Hoffenheim substitute Andrej Kramaric were enough to deal the bottom club its 10th away defeat.