Hamburg come back to draw play-off first leg

Hamburg still have work to do if they are to maintain their Bundesliga status after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Karlsruhe in the first leg of their relegation/promotion play-off on Thursday.

Karlsruhe, who finished third in the second tier and are looking to return to the top flight for the first time since 2009, took an early lead at the Imtech Arena when Rouwen Hennings drove a low shot past Rene Adler.

It was an 18th goal of the season for Hennings, who was on the books at Hamburg at the start of his career and also played for their city rivals St Pauli.

Manuel Torres and Dimitrij Nazarov both hit the woodwork for the visitors before Bruno Labbadia's side came back to equalise in the 73rd minute courtesy of Ivo Ilicevic.

That gives HSV a fighting chance ahead of Monday's return, although the away goal could yet prove crucial for Karlsruhe.

Hamburg are the only club to have been in the top flight in every season since the Bundesliga began in 1963, although they needed to beat Greuther Fuerth on away goals in a play-off to stay up last season.
Source: AFP