Borussia Moenchengladbach appeared set for a big win in Bochum after a classy first half but the tide turned after Karim Matmour narrowly missed increasing their lead to four in the 48th minute.

Mimoun Azaouagh scored almost identical goals within 48 seconds of each other as VfL Bochum fought from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw against Moenchengladbach, who were reduced to 10 men after Bonfim Dante was shown the red card for a foul on Stanislav Sestak at the 60-minute mark. Sestak completed the comeback just three minutes later.

Juan Arango, Roberto Colautti and Roel Brouwers had given Moenchengladbach what appeared to be a comfortable 3-0 halftime lead against a hapless Bochum defence.

"I told my team at halftime to play up to their potential. That's what the players then did," said Bochum coach Marcel Koller after the match.

"There are things you can't explain in football. In the end, we must be happy with the draw," said Moenchengladbach coach Michael Frontzeck.

Hamburg vs Freiburg

The other Sunday game was less exciting, with passive Hamburg held to a 1-1 draw at newly promoted SC Freiburg. The visitors took the lead in just the 34rd minute with a goal from Jonathan Pitroipa, but Tommy Bechmann struck back with the equalizer in the 65th.

"The result is ok," said Hamburg captain Frank Rost. "We were too slow in some situations, which allowed Freiburg to create chances."

Freiburg head coach Robin Dutt was not completely happy, saying: "We should win such a game in which we dominate such a strong team."

Champions VfL Wolfsburg top the standings after the opening round of the season following a 2-0 over Stuttgart on Friday.

Wolfsburg's former coach Felix Magath led his new club Schalke to a 2-1 victory at Nuremberg while Bayern Munich were held 1-1 at TSG Hoffenheim on the 58th birthday of their new coach, Louis van Gaal, on Saturday.

mrm/dpa/Reuters

Editor: Rick Demarest