Leverkusen snatches victory at Leipzig, Dortmund cruise past Cologne
Sports
Bundesliga leaders now have a seven-point cushion at the top
LEIPZIG/BERLIN (Reuters) – Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen twice came from a goal down and then bagged a second half stoppage time winner through Piero Hincapie to snatch a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig on Saturday and remain unbeaten in the league this season.
It was the second consecutive match that Xabi Alonso's team won with a last-gasp goal after their stoppage-time win over Augsburg last week.
Leverkusen, unbeaten in 27 consecutive matches across all competitions this season, are now on 48 points from 18 games, with second-placed Bayern Munich, who play Werder Bremen on Sunday, on 41 from 16 matches.
Leipzig, who have now gone three league games without a win for the first time under coach Marco Rose, are fourth on 33 points, level with fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund, winners 4-0 over Cologne.
"I don't know what this win means for the future but for now it is good to have a positive atmosphere in the team and sit in a good position in the table," Alonso told a press conference.
"We had too many problems in the first half. We improved in the second but it was an intense game. In the end it was the small details from set pieces that made the difference. I am very satisfied.
"It is three more points. We are in a good position but it is still only the first match of the second half of the season for us."
Leipzig completely overran the visitors early in the first half and had missed two golden chances by the time they took a seventh minute lead with Xavi Simons' superb goal after he twice controlled the ball in the air and then turned on the spot to beat keeper Lukas Hradecky.
Leverkusen, who now have more league wins than in the entire previous season, were nowhere to be seen in the first half and also had Jeremie Frimpong taken off injured after half an hour.
But they shot out of the blocks after the break, equalising in the 47th through Nathan Tella after being left completely unmarked at the far post and tapping in an Alejandro Grimaldo cutback.
They came close with Florian Wirtz a little later but Leipzig went back in front against the run of play with a textbook break, a perfect Dani Olmo through ball and a one-touch finish from their top scorer Lois Openda in the 56th.
That, however, only lasted seven minutes as the visitors drew level once more with Jonathan Tah rising high at the far post to head in a curling Jonas Hofmann corner.
The visitors' sensational comeback was complete in stoppage time when Hincapie shook off his marker and slid in at the far post to connect with Grimaldo's corner.
DORTMUND CRUISE PAST COLOGNE
Donyell Malen scored twice as Borussia Dortmund eased past hosts Cologne 4-0 on Saturday to make it two Bundesliga wins in a row this year and close in on third spot.
The visitors were stronger from the start and Dutch international Malen put them in front in the 12th minute after drilling in from Julian Brandt's corner.
The game had to be interrupted for about eight minutes a little later after fans threw chocolate coins onto the pitch in protest to the planned sale of a stake in the Bundesliga media rights firm to an investor.
While Dortmund gradually took their foot off the gas, Cologne almost levelled right after the restart with Jan Thielmann's point-blank effort palmed wide by keeper Gregor Kobel.
Cologne's Linton Maina then hit the woodwork with a superb effort in the 50th before Dortmund struck against the run of play when Jadon Sancho was brought down in the box.
Niclas Fuellkrug stepped up and converted the spot kick in the 58th to double their lead and only three minutes later Malen bagged his second goal after he latched on to a sensational Ian Maatsen pass to slot in.
Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko tapped in a fourth in stoppage time.
