Hoffenheim beats Freiburg 1-0

Nov 1, 2009 - 6:50 PM By NESHA STARCEVIC AP Sports Writer

FRANKFURT(AP) -- A superb goal from Brazilian striker Maicosuel earned Hoffenheim a 1-0 victory over Freiburg on Sunday that moved it up to fifth place in the Bundesliga.

In the other Sunday game, Eintracht Frankfurt beat Bochum 2-1 to spoil Heiko Herrlich's debut as a Bundesliga coach.

Maicosuel collected a pass from Vedad Ibisevic and found the net from the edge of the penalty area with a spectacular shot in the 39th minute.

Hoffenheim dominated the first half, wasting several chances, while promoted Freiburg raised its game after the break but could not avoid its fourth consecutive loss.

Freiburg also announced that its long-time president Achim Stocker died Sunday as a result of a heart attack suffered Wednesday. Stocker was 74 and had been at the head of the club since 1972, the longest- serving boss in the Bundesliga.

With 20 points from 11 games, Hoffenheim is three points behind leader Bayer Leverkusen.

Hoffenheim was the only top team to win over the weekend and moved past Bayern Munich, which is sixth in the standings.

In Frankfurt, Eintracht defender Maik Franz redeemed himself for giving away an own goal by scoring the winner with a close-range header in the 53rd minute against Bochum.

Eintracht dominated the match against the next-to-last team in the standings, whose coach Herrlich took the job this week, with Nikos Liberopoulos twice being denied by the woodwork.

Caio fired home a free kick in the 14th minute to put Eintracht ahead but Franz turned the ball into his own own net in the 25th while trying to clear a cross from Joel Epalle.

Bochum's Shinji Ono was sent off in the 80th minute for a second booking, which came less than a minute after his first yellow card.

On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen went one point clear at the top despite wasting a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Schalke.

Hamburger SV's stunning 3-2 home loss to Borussia Moenchengladbach after twice being a goal in front left Leverkusen as the only undefeated team after 11 games, with 23 points.

Defending champion Wolfsburg also struggled in a 3-3 draw at home with promoted Mainz, while Bayern Munich finished with a 0-0 draw at Stuttgart.

Werder Bremen came from behind to earn a last-minute 2-2 draw at Nuremberg and move past Hamburg on goal difference into second place. Both teams have 22 points. Schalke is fourth with 21.