Hertha Berlin fought back from three goals down at half-time for a morale-boosting 3-3 draw at Fortuna Dusseldorf during what is a turbulent time for the Bundesliga club.
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Dusseldorf looked to be on the way to a comfortable victory after goals in the sixth and 10th minutes from Kenan Karaman and Erik Thommy, and a second from Karaman just before half-time.
But an own goal by Thommy in the 64th and a deflected strike from Matheus Cunha two minutes later changed the game, and Krzysztof Piatek converted a penalty in the 75th after goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier was adjudged to have fouled the Polish striker.
Dusseldorf were unhappy with the penalty, with the video assistant referee not intervening although Kastenmeier got his hand to the ball before bringing down Piatek.
"The first half was a complete fiasco. You can't concede goals like that in the Bundesliga," Hertha midfielder Per Skjelbred told DAZN streaming service.
"We almost could have won. A very important point."
Dusseldorf remain third last on 21 points, four points off the direct relegation places before the weekend matches. Under new coach Uwe Roesler, they have just one defeat in six matches
Hertha gain a place to 13th on 27 points, but the rescue of a point will be a greater fillip for interim coach Alexander Nouri in a chaotic time at the Berlin club after the shock resignation of Jurgen Klinsmann as coach and a report published this week highly critical of the management.
Australian Associated Press