Obasi scores in 1-1 draw with Bayern

“I had the feeling that we would win the game and I think we should have won on our chances,” van Gaal said. “We played better in the second half, they ran out of gas but we didn’t take advantage of it.” Bayern was without playmaker Franck Ribery, strikers Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni and […]

“I had the feeling that we would win the game and I think we should have won on our chances,” van Gaal said. “We played better in the second half, they ran out of gas but we didn’t take advantage of it.”

Bayern was without playmaker Franck Ribery, strikers Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni and defender Martin Demichelis, all recovering from injuries. With Toni and Klose out, Olic and Mario Gomez made their Bundesliga debuts for Bayern.

Vedad Ibisevic made his comeback for Hoffenheim after missing the second half of the last season with a knee injury. The Bosnian, who scored 18 goals in 17 games before his injury, sent a header narrowly wide of the post in the 18th.

By then, Hoffenheim should have been a goal ahead. Defender Josip Simunic rose to meet a cross and headed it against the post. Goalkeeper Michael Rensing reached back to punch it out, but television replays showed it was well behind the line.

Hoffenheim dominated the early part of the game with its high-pace attack, but it was Bayern that scored first. Olic slotted home a cross form Croatia teammate Danijel Pranjic, another new signing.

“First game for Bayern – first goal. But I am disappointed that we didn’t win,” Olic said. “Still, we can live with the point.”

Hoffenheim leveled when Ibisevic laid the ball on for Obasi, whose low shot beat Rensing.

“I think the draw is just. We had a very strong start, had some good chances, but Bayern came back in the second half,” Hoffenheim’s coach Ralf Rangnick said. “We have to be happy with the draw.”

Bayern got the benefit of the doubt on several questionable calls in the second half. After one of them, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand did well to palm away a shot from Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Gomez then missed a good chance for Bayern after rounding Hildebrand but hitting the post.