FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Schalke fell to a fifth straight loss for its worst start in a Bundesliga season after wasting an early lead and having a penalty denied in stoppage time to go down 2-1 at Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Hoffenheim earned its first win of the season after four straight draws when Lukas Rupp netted the winning goal in the 41st. Earlier, Andrej Kramaric had canceled out Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s goal in the fourth.
Deep into stoppage time, the ball hit the arm of Hoffenheim’s Kerem Demirbay, but calls for a penalty were ignored.
“It was clearly a hand ball,” said Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann.
But Schalke players refused to blame the referee for the loss.
“It wasn’t the referee, we lost it today,” captain Benedikt Hoewedes said. “We are making too many mistakes and that’s what happens when you don’t have confidence.”
The defeat increases the pressure on Schalke’s new coach, Markus Weinzierl, who was brought in with a reputation as one of the most talented young coaches in Germany.
Schalke was also one of the busiest clubs on the transfer market but the new signings have failed to make an impact so far. Central defender Naldo was left on the bench, with Matija Nastasic taking his place. Nastasic was outplayed on both Hoffenheim goals.
“I don’t know what the problem is, but it’s getting tougher and tougher every week,” said Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann.
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COLOGNE 1, RB LEIPZIG 1
Despite a hostile reception, newcomer Leipzig earned a 1-1 draw in Cologne as both teams stayed undefeated.
Cologne fans blocked the bus bringing the Leipzig team to the stadium and the match kicked off 15 minutes late. Leipzig is supported by an Austrian energy drink maker and rose through the minor leagues to get promoted. Many Bundesliga fans are hostile to the side because of its commercial links.
Leipzig’s new signing, Scottish teenager Oliver Burke, made his first start and scored after five minutes with a finely taken shot that was slightly deflected.
Cologne tied the match in the 25th through Yuya Osako, who shook off two defenders before unleashing a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
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