Hoffenheim hit back for a draw

Published Feb. 19, 2010 10:43 p.m. ET

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Hoffenheim got the point they deserved after Borussia Monchengladbach claimed a 2-0 lead with goals which should not have stood.

The visitors took the lead with a penalty on the half-hour from Filip Daems, but the spot-kick decision was a poor one as Per Nilsson was clearly outside the box when he handled the ball.

Gladbach's second after 50 minutes was equally contentious as Roberto Colautti applied the finishing touch while stood in an offside position.

Ralf Rangnick's Hoffenheim, who have won just one Bundesliga game in 2010 to slip off the pace for European qualification, fought back and snatched a point with goals from Vedad Ibisevic and Carlos Eduardo, the latter from the penalty spot.

Hoffenheim were quickest out of the blocks at the Rhein-Neckar Stadion as Ibisevic headed just wide in the 12th minute from an Eduardo free-kick.

Eduardo then went close himself midway through the half as he burst through on goal but was denied by the legs of Gladbach goalkeeper Logan Bailly.

Then came the dubious penalty award to the visitors. There was no question Nilsson handled the ball but he was a couple of yards outside the box. Undeterred, Daems stroked home the penalty.

Michael Bradley should have added a second for Gladbach seven minutes later when the ball broke to him after Isaac Vorsah unforgivably hesitated in his own box, but the American fired his shot over the top.

However, six minutes into the second period it was 2-0, and again Hoffenheim had cause for complaint.

Raul Bobadilla's diving header was goalbound and Colautti added another touch to make sure, but he was in an offside position as Bobadilla made contact with the ball.

Hoffenheim were gifted a route back into the game as Ibisevic scored from close range (69) but Bradley again had the chance to score for Gladbach with 14 minutes left, however after breaking through one on one he could only shoot straight at Hoffenheim goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

The hosts levelled with a minute to go, as another penalty was awarded for handball - correctly this time - and Eduardo made no mistake.