Soccer - Leverkusen leave it late for comeback win over Hoffenheim
LEVERKUSEN, Germany -Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen scored late goals through Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick to earn a 2-1 comeback win over Hoffenheim on Saturday and edge closer to the league title.
Leverkusen, unbeaten in 39 matches across all competitions this season, are now on 73 points, 13 ahead of Bayern Munich, who lost 2-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund and remain on 60.
A day after coach Xabi Alonso announced he would be staying on despite interest from major European clubs, Leverkusen, battling for three trophies this season, got off to a lacklustre start despite controlling the pace of the game.
Their attacks were stifled and the finishing lacked precision with Hoffenheim's Maximilian Beier silencing the home crowd in the 33rd minute after breaking clear and beating goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky from close range.
"In the first half we had problems to control the game and to reach the final third of the pitch," Alonso said. "But we kept at it and in the second half we scored. It does not matter when. We needed a goal to change the mindset."
The hosts piled on the pressure after the break and carved out several chances but were repeatedly denied by Oliver Baumann, who pulled off a spectacular double save in the 76th.
With time running out Alonso brought on forward Borja Iglesias, who rattled the crossbar four minutes later with the hosts constantly in Hoffenheim's box.
The pressure paid off in the 88th minute when Andrich stabbed in the equaliser from a Florian Wirtz cross.
Schick volleyed home to complete the comeback in stoppage time, confirming Leverkusen's never-say-die attitude this season.
Alonso's team had come from two goals down in both Europa League round of 16 legs against Qarabag this month to advance 5-4 on aggregate.
"Every game is a huge challenge for us. We were lucky but we showed a very good mentality to keep going, to keep believing. We had a chance to win just like against Qarabag and we did it," Alonso said.
"To have this faith to have a winning mentality, it is something that is created and we have created it this season."
Leverkusen, whose last major title dates back more than 30 years, face Fortuna Duesseldorf in the German Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
With 73 points, they have now equalled their club record from the 1999-2000 campaign.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)
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