Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Moenchengladbach drew 1-1 in the Bundesliga, while promoted SC Paderborn 07 held second-placed VfL Wolfsburg by the same score on Sunday.
Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring in the early game with a wonderful effort over the goalkeeper and inside the far corner in the 18th minute.
The home side failed to make the most of their first-half superiority, though, and were made to pay six minutes before the break when Roel Brouwers equalized after a corner. It was the visitors’ first shot on goal.
Photo: Reuters
Brouwers almost made it 2-1 early in the second half, which got off to a furious start, but lacked clear-cut chances.
Andre Hahn could have snatched victory with another late ’Gladbach counterattack, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
“With a better counterattack we might have won 2-1, but 1-1 is OK away from home,” Brouwers said.
Both sides moved above Augsburg on goal-difference to occupy the UEFA Champions League places.
“To draw with ’Gladbach is no scandal,” Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt said.
Paderborn goalkeeper Lukas Kruse saved a penalty in an inspirational performance to salvage a point for his side in the late game.
An own-goal from Rafa gave Wolfsburg a 17th-minute lead. The Spanish defender tried clearing the ball off the line from the lurking Bas Dost, but could only crash it off the crossbar and in.
Kruse saved Ivan Perisic’s penalty in the 30th minute, Dost hit the crossbar three minutes later and then had a goal ruled out for a perceived foul on Christian Strohdiek before the break.
Alban Meha equalized with a penalty in the 51st minute, awarded for a foul by Naldo on Strohdiek.
Dost missed another chance shortly afterward and the striker’s ill luck continued in the 58th minute when he was not awarded a penalty, despite appearing to have been bundled over by Meha.
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