BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund’s poor form continued when they were held by visiting Hoffenheim to 2-2 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Erling Haaland’s 16th goal of the season salvaged the draw for Dortmund, but will do little to address questions of defensive frailties and charges of complacency among the home team.

Dortmund have won only one of their last six league games and are dropping back in the race for the top four Champions League qualification places.

The team have claimed only 14 from 30 possible points since Terzi took over from the fired Lucien Favre, and he was already under increasing pressure after three defeats from the previous four Bundesliga games.

Terzi raised eyebrows by dropping captain Marco Reus to the substitutes. The 17-year-old Jude Bellingham started in a bid for defensive stability.

Ihlas Bebou missed two good chances for Hoffenheim before Jadon Sancho beat the offside trap at the other end to open the scoring in the 24th minute.

Munas Dabbur equalised in the 31st. Stefan Posch produced a last-ditch tackle to deny Bellingham then Dabbur scored on the counterattack.

Bebou scored Hoffenheim’s second goal in the 51st. Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz punched the ball but only as far as Bebou’s forehead, from where it rebounded in.

Haaland equalised in the 81st.

Saturday’s games all ended in draws.

After two defeats, Hertha Berlin drew at Stuttgart 1-1 for their first point in three games since Drdai Pl returned as coach.

Union’s winless streak stretched to five games, while Schalkes hopes of survival remained slim with just nine points from 21 games.

Also, Mainz scored two late goals at Bayer Leverkusen for 2-2, and Freiburg drew at Werder Bremen 0-0.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2021