‘Emotional’ Werner scores for Leipzig on Bundesliga return – Sporting Life

Abraham Smith

Former Chelsea striker Timo Werner scored in an emotional return to Leipzig but it wasn’t enough for their first win of the season as Cologne drew 2-2 on Saturday.

Leipzig played most of the game with 10 men after Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai received a straight red card just before half-time for an elbow to his throat from Cologne’s Florian Kainz.

Werner left Leipzig for London in 2020 before returning earlier this week in a £25m deal ($30.2m, €29.5m).

Leipzig’s record goalscorer put his side ahead in the 36th minute when goalkeeper Marvin Schwaebe let Werner’s long-range shot penetrate under his body and trickle over the line.

But just four minutes later, Cologne equalized when striker Florian Dietz scored his first Bundesliga goal from close range.

French striker Christopher Nkunku put the home side ahead in the 56th minute, but Köln equalized with 20 minutes remaining through an awkward own goal from Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.

After the game, Werner, who was substituted in the 68th minute to warm applause, said he was “very emotional” about returning.

“It was something special for me to come back after two years.”

“Leipzig is always a part of me. I grew up here and got my first call from Germany here.”

However, the 26-year-old was less than thrilled with the result, meaning Leipzig have drawn their opening two games.

“When you see how we’ve lost points this season, it’s really bitter.

“Considering we’ve been playing with one man behind for so long, 2-2 is acceptable, but it’s far from satisfactory for our goals (this season),” he said.

In Saturday’s late game, Schalke secured a last-minute 2-2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach when Marius Bülter converted an injury-time penalty.

Schalke opened the scoring in the 29th minute thanks to a stunning solo goal from Rodrigo Zalazar, who dribbled the ball down the middle before firing a long-range shot from the edge of the box.

Jonas Hofmann – fresh from his midweek contract extension – slid the ball over the line in the 27th minute before France’s Marcus Thuram put Gladbach ahead just six minutes later.

Gladbach winger Patrick Herrmann caught a handball in the penalty area in injury time, which gave Bülter the chance to convert from the point.

Schalke striker Simon Terodde summed up his team’s emotional celebrations after completion.

“People here – they missed us,” he said.

“It’s nice that we were able to give them a point in the 93rd minute.”

– Burke scores for Bremen –

Werder Bremen clinched a late point at home against Stuttgart with a 95th-minute goal from Scottish winger Oliver Burke.

Bremen’s two-pronged attack by Niclas Fuellkrug and Marvin Ducksch combined again and put the home side into play in the fourth minute.

Bremen’s “Ugly Ducklings” Niclas Fuellkrug and Marvin Ducksch (pictured) again offered a lot of threats

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Stuttgart equalized in the 38th minute through Wataru Endo and took the lead through Silas Katompa Mvumpa just over ten before Burke clinched a late point for Bremen.

Augsburg won 2-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen thanks to an 82nd-minute goal from Andre Hahn, deepening concerns for the winless Leverkusen after their early exit from the DFB-Pokal.

Under pressure in the German capital, Hertha Berlin was 1-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Frankfurt had saved a late penalty against VAR and Hertha hung on to take their first point of the season.

In Sinsheim, Hoffenheim went from a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 win over an impressive Bochumer, thanks to goals from former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak, Christoph Baumgartner and an 88th-minute header from Munas Dabbur.

Dortmund scored three goals in the last 15 minutes away at Freiburg on Friday to win 3-1.

On Sunday Wolfsburg meets FC Bayern Munich, Mainz meets Union Berlin.

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