体坛英语新闻：Bayern loses ground with Gladbach tie

BEIJING, Nov. 17-- Bayern Munich's revival faltered after a costly 2-2 draw at Borussia Moenchen gladbach on Saturday while the top two, Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, won.

    Bayern was on course for a sixth successive Bundesliga victory when it took a 2-0 lead with a Luca Toni tap-in and a Franck Ribery penalty, only for Gladbach to score twice in two second-half minutes to secure an unlikely point.

    Leverkusen, which threw away a three-goal lead against Karlsruhe, showed more grit as it held on for a 2-1 win at home to Schalke 04.

    Hoffenheim saw off VfL Wolfsburg 3-2.

    Leverkusen leads the table with 28 points from 13 games, ahead of Hoffenheim on goal difference. Bayern is third on 25 after its defensive problems were exposed in the second half.

    Bayern went ahead when Philipp Lahm took the ball forward down the left in the 21st minute, beat the covering defender and pulled the ball back to the near post for Toni.

    The visitors made it 2-0 when Ribery won a marginal penalty decision midway through the second half and converted it himself.

    Gladbach got one back in the 79th when Rob Friend was left unmarked to head home and on its next attack Roberto Colautti recovered from a clumsy Martin Demichelis challenge and crossed for Michael Bradley to nod in.

    Leverkusen had shown similar frailties against Karlsruhe but provided the perfect response at home to Schalke.

    Stefan Kiessling struck with a low volley and Patrick Helmes poached the second four minutes before the break.

    The home side looked comfortable even after Gonzalo Castro's second booking left it short in the 67th.

    Kevin Kuranyi eventually got one back with a header five minutes from time but Schalke could not prevent a second successive defeat.

    Hoffenheim also dropped points last weekend, when it was beaten by Hertha Berlin, and had things far from easy against Wolfsburg but won.