Battling Bremen grab a point

Werder Bremen twice fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 4-4 Bundesliga draw at Hoffenheim.

Philipp Bargfrede scored in stoppage time as Werder Bremen twice fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 4-4 Bundesliga draw at Hoffenheim. Sejad Sehovic scored penalties in the 12th and 18th minutes to give Hoffenheim a 2-0 lead, but Bremen went in at half-time level after Aaron Hunt converted a 45th-minute penalty and then Eljero Elia equalised in stoppage time. Kevin Volland got Hoffenheim ahead in the 49th minute and Kai Herdling made it 4-2 after 53 minutes, but Nils Petersen cut the deficit to 4-3 in the 59th minute and then Bargfrede had the final dramatic word at the death. The result ended a three-game losing streak for Hoffenheim but meant they have collected just one victory in the last nine matches and remained two points and one position behind their 12th-placed visitors. Bremen coach Robin Dutt surprised many with his line-up as he benched his usual goalkeeper Sebastian Mielitz and replaced him with Raphael Wolf for his Bundesliga debut. Wolf was beaten in the 12th minute from the spot. After Santiago Garcia took down Volland in the box, Sehovic stepped up and drilled his left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner. Hoffenheim doubled their lead in the 18th minute, again with a penalty. Cedrick Makiadi was ruled to have fouled Eugen Polanski, and again Sehovic converted - this time chipping down the middle for 2-0. The hosts dominated the run of play but it was Bremen who scored next - with another spot-kick after Sven Schipplock handled Hunt's free kick in the box. Hunt made no mistake from 12 yards. Bremen equalised in first-half stoppage time as Hunt's pass along the goal-line somehow got past Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels to an unmarked Elia, who prodded home. Hoffenheim reclaimed the lead four minutes after the restart, Volland heading in Sehovic's cross from the left. The home team went 4-2 up in the 53rd minute with Herdling blasting home an impressive right-footed shot from the edge of the area. Bremen ensured a nervy finish when they pulled a goal back after 59 minutes. Hoffenheim were unable to clear the ball and Petersen was the beneficiary. Casteels looked to have secured his side the win when he kept out Petersen's attempt a minute into stoppage time. But Bargfrede scored just seconds later to make it 4-4 from a corner, lashing home from 15 yards to ensure the spoils were shared.