STUTTGART: Deniz Undav’s thrilling equaliser eight minutes into added time salvaged a point for VfB Stuttgart, who settled for a 3-3 draw with Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Heidenheim fought back from two goals down to take the lead when Tim Kleindienst scored twice within a minute, but were not able to hold on to clinch their first win in six matches.

The hosts took the lead in the 41st minute through Serhou Guirassy who scored from Angelo Stiller’s cross from the left to take his goal tally to 23 in the league, second only to Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.

Stiller doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, chasing Undav’s through ball into the box and finishing with his left foot to earn his first goal for Stuttgart.

Heidenheim got a goal back nine minutes later when Stuttgart keeper Alexander Nubel spilled Kleindienst’s header off a corner into his own net.

Kleindienst got the equaliser for Heidenheim in the 84th minute, burying Jan-Niklas Beste’s pass into the net with his left foot, scoring his first league goal since February.

The forward struck again a minute later as Eren Dinkci set him up for a header from close range, sending thousands of visiting Heidenheim fans delirious with joy as the visitors took a 3-2 lead.

But the hosts turned it around deep into added time when Maximilian Mittelstadt found Undav in the centre of the box for a right-footed finish.

Heidenheim remain 11th with 30 points ahead of facing second-placed Bayern at home next weekend.

Third placed Stuttgart, three points behind Bayern with 57 points, are four points ahead of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund whom they visit on Saturday.

In Sunday’s late game, rock-bottom Darmstadt came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Bochum.

A Philipp Hofmann double put the home side in control but a 62nd-minute Tim Skarke goal and an Oscar Vilhelmsson strike with 14 minutes remaining levelled the scores.

Despite the point, Darmstadt are 12 points from safety with seven games left and look set for immediate relegation, having not won since October.

Earlier on Sunday, Augsburg drew 1-1 at home with Cologne to regain seventh spot in the Bundesliga, and remain on course for a return to European football.

Arne Maier gave the home side the lead after 18 minutes, but Davie Selke’s 33rd-minute goal levelled the scores for the visitors.

Augsburg came into the game on a four-match winning streak and could qualify for Europe for the first time since 2015-16.

Depending on UEFA rankings and German Cup results, seventh spot may be enough for a Europa Conference League place.

The point was cold comfort for Cologne, who are stranded in second-last place, six points from safety with seven games remaining.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2024