BERLIN (AP) — Hoffenheim came from behind to beat his team 2-1 at Leverxen on Saturday, ruining Eric Ten Hagg’s Bundesliga debut as Bayer Leberkusen coach.
Tim Lempale scored a visitor winner early in the second half, losing the summer change and getting off to a disappointing start before winning the new look of Leverkusen.
Ten Hag, who took over from Xabi Alonso, tied up by Real Madrid, had three new signatures in the starting lineup, including goalkeeper Mark Flekken, Young Forward Ibrahim Maza and defender Jarell Quansah.
The latter headed Levarkusen for the early lead, but Fisnik Aslani leveled it on the 25th and turned Lemphal’s provider on the 52nd.
The summer departure for major Leverkusen players such as Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong and former captain Jonathan Tah was evident as the home team failed to mount the response.
Ten Hag was just one of four coaches making their Bundesliga debuts with their new team.
Former German assistant Sandro Wagner got off to a dream start with the Augsburg team winning 3-1 in Freiburg, but Paul Simonis also won the opening victory with Wolfsberg defeating Heidenheim 3-1.
Horst Stephen’s Vader Bremen lost 4-1 at Aintrak Frankfurt. The goalkeeper Michael Zetteler made his debut against his former teammate three days later.
Dortmund draws
Borussia Dortmund continued his 3-3 draw at St. Pauli after Filippo Mane was sent late for visitors.
Dortmund was leading 3-1 when Mane was shown a red card on the 85th for beating Abdly Sheesai, who was on the goal. Dannel Sinani scored the resulting penalty, and Eric Smith sent home fans wilderly when he equalized from distance four minutes later.
Dortmund only defended for the last few minutes as he tried to maintain that point.
A wonderful debut for young people
20-year-old Ilyas Ansa scored two goals in Union Berlin’s Bundesliga debut, defeating Stuttgat 2-1.
The game was delayed as soon as it began while the stewards were about to clear streamers and confetti off the field. Union fans had organized a huge TIFO that showed goalkeepers catch the ball while the giant banner declared “believe in your love.”
Signed by Second Division club Paderbone, Ansa scored on the 18th as he flew a volley with the correct post from outside the penalty area. He attacked again before the break with Andregi Ilich’s volley to the cross.
The Union also needed goalkeeper Frederick Laneno at his best as he dropped an Atacan Carrather shot to the post among other saves.
Tiago Thomas, who returned to Stuttgart from Wolfsberg last week, scored late on his heels on the post, thinking Nick Ultemaid would be equal in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out offside. Union fans celebrated as if the team scored and won.
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