BERLIN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- TSG Hoffenheim saw their opportunity to climb into the Bundesliga's top three slip away as a battling Mainz side salvaged a 1-1 draw at the Mewa Arena on Friday.
Driven by the momentum of four consecutive league victories, the visitors began with authority and were ahead inside nine minutes. A delivery from the left by Maximilian Beier drifted into the area and was inadvertently turned into his own net by Andreas Hanche-Olsen under pressure from Fisnik Asllani.
Hoffenheim looked in control for large spells of the first half. Asllani and Vladimir Coufal both tested Mainz keeper Robin Zentner, while the home side struggled to generate consistent attacking rhythm despite flashes of threat through Benedict Hollerbach.
The pattern shifted after the interval as Mainz injected greater urgency. A series of near misses from Phillipp Mwene and Paul Nebel hinted at a possible comeback, while Hoffenheim failed to convert promising breaks through Tim Lemperle.
The equalizer eventually arrived in the 76th minute, when a corner sparked chaos in the box and substitute Danny da Costa forced the ball over the line from close range.
Drama followed in a tense finale. Hoffenheim thought they had secured a stoppage-time winner when Ihlas Bebou headed home, only for the goal to be ruled out for handball in the buildup. Moments earlier, Mainz were reduced to 10 men, with Dominik Kohr shown his ninth career red card, a new Bundesliga record, for a reckless challenge on Tom Bischof.
The result ended Hoffenheim's winning streak and leaves them frustrated after missing a clear chance to move into the top three, while relegation threatened Mainz at least gain a measure of encouragement.
The 11th matchday continues on Saturday, with leaders Bayern Munich hosting Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund facing VfL Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig traveling to face Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen welcoming Cologne in the Rhineland derby, and Eintracht Frankfurt taking on SC Freiburg. ■
