Late Vestergaard goal rescues Hoffenheim a point against Freiburg
Sinsheim - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim left it late to rescue a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Baden-Württemberg rivals SC Freiburg.
Frantz at the double
A Mike Frantz brace gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena before Tarik Elyounoussi and Sebastian Rudy pulled Hoffenheim level at the hour mark. Vladimir Darida then fired Freiburg back in front, but three points weren't meant to be for Christian Streich's men as Jannik Vestergaard levelled matters in added time.
Hoffenheim started the game with real intent and dominated proceedings in the opening stages. However, a horribly misjudged ball gave Freiburg an unlikely lead, as Kevin Volland's backpass was intercepted by Maximilian Philipp, who squared for Mike Frantz to slot in from inside the box.
Freiburg's summer signing then wasted no time in adding his second, doing well to meet Jonathan Schmidt's cross to make it 2-0 after 33 minutes. It was the wake-up call Hoffenheim needed, with Markus Gisdol's men upping the pressure, Elyounoussi eventually pulling one back just before the break through a wonderful individual effort.
Late drama
The home side remained in the driving seat after the break and just after the hour mark they were back on level terms, Rudy curling a free-kick over the wall and into the net. With Freiburg desperate to record a first win of the season there was no question of them rolling over, and they were back in front 15 minutes from time. Tobias Strobl felled Schmidt in the area on one of Freiburg's few counter-attacks; Darida calmly dispatched the resulting penalty.
Hoffenheim were never going to give in though, and the Kraichgauer were rewarded for their efforts three minutes into injury time. Shortly after Darida saw straight red for a dangerous tackle on Pirmin Schwegler, Vestergaard struck to rescue 1899 a point with practically the last kick of the game.
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