Stefan Kiessling scored twice as Bayer Leverkusen rebounded from their first defeat of the season with a 4-2 home victory over Hamburg on Sunday.
A week after losing 3-2 at Nuremberg, Kiessling found the net in each half, either side of an Eren Derdiyok strike before Gonzalo Castro added a late fourth to keep Leverkusen in the running for the Bundesliga title.
Jupp Heynckes’ team moved on to 53 points in third place, one point behind Schalke and three behind leaders Bayern Munich.
PHOTO: EPA
“This was an important game for us after the other two teams [Bayern Munich and Schalke] had won. It was also important to keep some space from the teams behind us,” Heynckes said. “It’s normal that you lose a game after 25 games. But we showed an excellent reaction. And they were rewarded today.”
Kiessling opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, running onto a long pass from Tranquillo Barnetta and out-pacing two Hamburg defenders before beating ’keeper Frank Rost.
Hamburg scored a fortuitous equalizer in the 33rd minute after Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia and goalkeeper Rene Adler collided as they tried to intercept a high pass to the edge of the area. The ball ran free to Hamburg playmaker Ze Roberto, who volleyed over Adler into an empty net.
Leverkusen regained the lead 10 minutes into the second half, when Derdiyok headed home a cross from Daniel Schwaab and Kiessling nodded home seven minutes later after a cross from Renato Augusto.
David Rozehnal pulled a goal back for Hamburg in the 83rd minute, but Castro made sure of the points with Leverkusen’s fourth just a minute later.
Hamburg remained in fifth place on 43 points, one more than Werder Bremen, who beat Hoffenheim 1-0 away earlier on Sunday thanks to a late winner from Claudio Pizarro.
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