Bayer Leverkusen went top of the Bundesliga in extraordinary circumstances on Friday, winning 2-1 at Hoffenheim after being awarded a goal when Stefan Kiessling`s header clearly went into the side-netting.
|Last Updated: Oct 19, 2013, 09:12 AM IST|Source: Reuters
Berlin:Bayer Leverkusen went top of the Bundesliga in extraordinary circumstances on Friday, winning 2-1 at Hoffenheim after being awarded a goal when Stefan Kiessling`s header clearly went into the side-netting.
Television replays showed that Kiessling`s 70th minute effort missed the target and entered the net through a hole for a so-called "phantom goal" to put his side 2-0 ahead.
The Leverkusen forward initially put his hands on his head and looked confused when referee Felix Brych awarded the goal while his team mates surrounded him to celebrate.
The decision is likely to renew the arguments over the Bundesliga`s refusal to use goal-line technology, especially as it was the second time this season that hapless Hoffenheim were on the wrong end of a contentious decision.
Leverkusen officials admitted the goal should not have been given and Hoffenheim`s football director Alexander Rosen said they would protest.
"We will definitely do that," he said. "The Leverkusen players did not celebrate. It`s scandalous."
Referee Brych, looking disconcerted, left the field to a resounding chorus of jeers at the end.
"I had a slight doubt, but the reaction of the players was clear," Brych told German media. "Nobody said to me that the ball did not go in. For me, it`s not a great situation to have given a goal that didn`t exist."
Kiessling looked bemused as he told Sky Sports Deutschland: "I initially thought that the ball was not in, but then everyone came over to me to celebrate."
LITTLE UNPLEASANT
Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia added: "I saw after the game that the ball went just past the post. During the match, I celebrated, but naturally it`s a little unpleasant to win like that."
A FIFA source said that goal-line technology would have detected that the ball had not gone in.
Hoffenheim`s misery was compounded with a bizarre sequence of misses after they were awarded a penalty shortly after falling two goals behind.
Roberto Firmino saw his shot saved by Bernd Leno. Firmino then fired the rebound against the post and the ball fell to Omer Toprak, who also hit the same upright.
They finally pulled a goal back with a Sven Schipplock header.
Sidney Sam had given Leverkusen, who are top of Bundesliga with 22 points from nine games, a first-half lead with his seventh goal of the season.
They are two points ahead of Bayern Munich who host Mainz on Saturday, while Borussia Dortmund are a further point behind and host Hanover 96.
It is the second time in this campaign Hoffenheim will feel aggrieved about a match-changing decision.
They had a goal controversially disallowed on the opening day of the season against Nuremberg when Kevin Volland skillfully chipped the ball over goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer and into the goal.
Replays showed that the ball landed well behind the goal-line before bouncing back out and into play, Nuremberg players turned away in disappointment and Volland was on his way to celebrate when referee Thorsten Kinhoefer waved play on. Hoffenheim were winning 1-0 at the time, but were held 2-2.
Germany has ruled out adopting any goal-line technology until at least 2015. It has also rejected the additional assistant referees who are positioned on each goal line and are used in European competitions and Serie A.
The incident brought back memories of Thomas Helmer`s infamous phantom goal for Bayern Munich in 1994 when he scrambled the ball wide only for the referee to rule that it had gone in.
Bayern went on to win the match against Nuremberg 2-1 and, although the result was annulled by the Bundesliga, they won the replay 5-0.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.