Hoffenheim win despite another VAR setback
berlin — Adam Szalai scored twice as Hoffenheim came from behind to win 3-1 against Freiburg on Saturday, while Bayer Leverkusen collapsed to a second defeat in their second game of the Bundesliga season.
Julian Nagelsmann had criticised VAR after defeat to Bayern last week, and the Hoffenheim coach looked on furiously as the video assistant correctly denied his team an early goal against Freiburg.
Nagelsmann’s mood darkened further when Dominique Heintz prodded Freiburg in front on 36 minutes, but Szalai saved Hoffenheim with a brilliant second-half brace.
Szalai capitalised on a defensive mix-up to draw Hoffenheim level just after the break, before turning a Nico Schulz cross into the net on 63 minutes. Andrej Kramaric sealed victory on the counter-attack in stoppage time.
An abject defensive performance saw Leverkusen go down 3-1 at home to Wolfsburg, after Leon Bailey had given them the lead with a brilliant first-half strike.
Leverkusen keeper Ramazan Ozcan allowed Yannick Gerhardt’s equaliser to beat him at the near post on 36 minutes, and Bayer’s defensive nightmare continued after half-time. An unmarked Wout Weghorst headed Wolfsburg ahead on 55 minutes, before Renato Steffen broke through the back line to seal Leverkusen’s disastrous start to the season.
Milot Rashica’s brilliant freekick saw Werder Bremen steal a dramatic late win against ten-man Eintracht Frankfurt.
Japanese international forward Yuya Osako’s opener for Bremen was given by VAR on 22 minutes, and Frankfurt looked dead and buried when Jetro Willems was sent off before half-time.
Sebastien Haller’s penalty drew the home side level after the break, but Rashica broke Frankfurt hearts with a vicious, curling free-kick deep into stoppage time.