Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (C) lets in a goal during a Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen in Sinsheim yesterday. (Reuters)

DPA/Berlin


Veteran striker Claudio Pizarro came off the bench to help Werder Bremen snatch a stoppage time 3-1 victory yesterday at Hoffenheim who are still without a win in the new Bundesliga season.
Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar meanwhile hit the winner for Schalke in a 2-1 defeat of Mainz.
Pizarro, making a first appearance back at his old club, was sent on by coach Viktor Skripnik in the 82nd minute and set up Anthony Ujah to put Bremen ahead against Hoffenheim in the second minute of stoppage time.
Austria midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic then struck a third for Bremen a minute later with the last kick of the game.
Junuzovic had put Bremen ahead with a shot into the corner of the net on the stroke of half-time.
Chile midfielder Eduardo Vargas, a summer signing, came off the bench at half-time for Hoffenheim and netted an equalizer four minutes into the second half with his first Bundesliga goal.
Pizarro, who has returned to Bremen after a three-year spell at Bayern Munich, proved decisive when he held the ball up in the area and almost stumbled, but recovered to poke it to Ujah, who steered the ball over the line before Junuzovic added the third.
The Peruvian striker, who will be 37 in three weeks, said: “We have to continue fighting like we did today, then we can achieve a lot.”
Skripnik said having someone like Pizarro, the most successful foreign goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 176 goals, can make the difference.
“We were tremendously disciplined in the first half and after the break there was a phase in which Hoffenheim dominated. They had the chance to go in front,” he said.
“In the end we turned it round our way, and for this I am proud of my team.”
Hoffenheim are 15th on one point after three defeats in four matches, while Bremen leap to sixth on seven, level on points with Schalke and four other teams.
In Gelsenkirchen, Huntelaar had a fourth-minute penalty saved by Loris Karius before Schalke took a 37th-minute lead when Joel Matip headed in a corner.
Yunis Malli levelled three minutes before the break for Mainz from right in front of goal after a shot from Christian Clemens came back off the inside of the post.
Huntelaar then made amends for his penalty miss by rifling the ball by Karius just after the hour.
Schalke could have increased their lead but had to thank keeper Ralf Faehrmann for saving brilliantly in the final minute from substitute Florian Niederlechner.
Huntelaar then tried a stoppage-time shot from the half-way line after Mainz keeper Karius was stranded after going up for a corner, but the ball sailed narrowly wide of the post.
Borussia Dortmund top the table on goal difference over champions Bayern Munich. Both have a maximum 12 points after Dortmund won 4-2 at Hanover and Bayern edged Augsburg 2-1 Saturday.