Leipzig rescued by VAR then score twice in Hoffenheim win

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Robert Skov in action with Leipzig's Tyler Adams, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS

Third-placed RB Leipzig scored two quickfire goals through Dani Olmo immediately after Hoffenheim had a penalty award overturned by VAR in a remarkable opening 12 minutes on the way to a 2-0 victory on the road in the Bundesliga on Friday.

The win gave Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann a happy first return to the club where he began his coaching career as a 28-year-old. His side now have 62 points from 31 games, one behind Borussia Dortmund and eight off Bayern Munich who both play on Saturday.

The result also ensured an unhappy start for Hoffenheim's unorthodox five-man coaching team who replaced Alfred Schreuder after his sacking on Tuesday. The hosts remain seventh on 43 points as they chase a Europa League qualifying spot.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Steven Zuber in action with Leipzig's Dani Olmo, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

After a bright opening spell, Hoffenheim were awarded a penalty when Munas Dabbur was upended by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the sixth minute.

The ball was on the spot and Dabbur was waiting to take the spot kick when it was revoked for handball after a VAR review which took nearly two minutes.

Leipzig then delivered two knockout blows when Olmo finished off a counter-attack by sidefooting the visitors ahead in the ninth minute and the Spaniard struck again two minutes later from a similar position.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Pavel Kaderabek in action with Leipzig's Konrad Laimer, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Dabbur headed against the bar and Gulacsi made a superb block from Christoph Baumgartner as valiant Hoffenheim kept pushing forward, while Leipzig forward Timo Werner was put clean through but side-footed over just before halftime.

Olmo missed the chance of a hat-trick when he sidefooted wide in the 65th minute and Christopher Nkunku rattled the post as Leipzig missed a flurry of chances in the second half.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Ihlas Bebou in action with Leipzig's Nordi Mukiele and Lukas Klostermann, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Sebastian Rudy in action with Leipzig's Tyler Adams, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Pavel Kaderabek in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Ermin Bicakcic with Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Referee Tobias Welz with Leipzig's Kevin Kampl, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Christoph Baumgartner in action with Leipzig's Peter Gulacsi, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Steven Zuber in action with Leipzig's Patrick Schick, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Steven Zuber is shown a yellow card by referee Tobias Welz, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Munas Dabbur in action with Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim coach Matthias Kaltenbach during the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Hoffenheim's Jacob Bruun Larsen with Leipzig's Peter Gulacsi after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig - PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - June 12, 2020 Leipzig's Peter Gulacsi celebrates after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Uwe Anspach/Pool via REUTERS DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video