German football giant Bayern Munich had their ambition snubbed at the Bundesliga opener as they were tied 1-1 in an away game against Hoffenheim on Saturday, while Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi scored twice to be the top shining star of the day.
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Bayern Munich's Ivica Olic (2nd L) scores a goal during their German Bundesliga soccer match against TSG Hoffenheim in Sinsheim Aug. 8, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]
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Ivica Olic put Bayern in front in the 25th minute in what was also his first league appearance for the record champions. ChineduObasi leveled for the hosts in the 41st minute, set up by fit-again strike partner Vedad Ibisevic.
Bayern were thus unable to present new coach Louis van Gaal with a debut Bundesliga victory on the occasion of his 58th birthday.
"The team forgot to play football in the first half," said van Gaal. "In the second they were flat but we did not use our chances."
Bayern Munich missed several key players through injury, like playmaker Franck Ribery, strikers Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni and defender Martin Demichelis.
The opener from Olic was virtually the only highlight of a first half to forget for the visitors. There was early controversy in the 11th minute when Hoffenheim's new central defender Josip Simunic headed the ball off the post and Bayern keeper Michael Rensing appeared to clear it only after it had crossed the line. The referee, however, did not give the goal.
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TSG Hoffenheim's Sejad Salihovic (L) challenges Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez during their German Bundesliga soccer match in Sinsheim Aug. 8, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]
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Just as Hoffenheim seemed to be in the ascendancy however, Bayern hit them on the break. Danijel Pranjic - another new signing - crossed from the left into the six-yard box and Olic nudged the ball home to put the visitors in the driving seat against the run of play.
Bayern visibly grew in confidence having found the net, while the goal seemed to have the opposite effect on Hoffenheim for a while. That all changed four minutes before the break though, when1899 launched a counter-attack of their own. Tobias Weis put in a cross from the right and Ibisevic laid the ball off perfectly for Obasi to rifle home from 14 meters out.
Chances were at a premium for both sides after the interval, and neither side ever find the net in the end.
Schalke 04 got off to a winning start under new coach Felix Magath thanks to striker Kevin Kuranyi's two goals.
Kuranyi turned out to be the hero when he scored on either side of half time, sealing a 2-1 victory against newly-elevated Nuremburg.
The win also marked a successful debut for Magath, who last season steered VfL Wolfsburg to the title.
Kuranyi, who has had a few troubled years at Schalke and was rumored to be on his way out last season, struck from close range in the 36th minute after picking up a Jefferson Farfan pass.
The striker, eager to regain his place in the Germany team, added a second goal five minutes after the restart by firing in a cross from Georgian Levan Kenia.
Nuremberg managed to pull one back two minutes from time but Slovak striker Marek Mintal's strike came too late.
"I am glad to have won this match but I am not particularly happy," said Magath. "Our game was not good. After the 1-0 and the2-0 we should have controlled it much better."
In other games on the day, Frankfurt stunned hosts Werder Bremen 3-2, twice going ahead with goals from Yannis Amanatidis and twice seeing Bremen fight back before the break.
Dortmund edged Koeln 1-0 thanks to Marvin Matip's own goal in the 75th minute. The latter missed injured German striker Lukas Podolski who has rejoined the club from Bayern Munich.
Newly-promoted Mainz managed to tie powerhouse Leverkusen 2-2 at home.
Later on Sunday, VfL Bochum will face Moenchengladbach at home while Hamburg is to visit Freiburg.
