体坛英语新闻：Hertha, Hamburg edge rivals to stay in Bundesliga title race

BERLIN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- German football giants Hamburg and Hertha Berlin edged their respective rivals 2-1 at home on Sunday, availing both of them of staying in the race for the Bundesliga title.

    A Mladen Petric double has kept Hamburger in the title race. The Croatian striker scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Hannover 96 as HSV climbed to third.

    Petric had needed just 63 seconds to open the scoring with a beautiful volley thanks to a superb cross from defender Jerome Boateng.

    Shortly after the beginning of the second half, Hamburgs striker Jose Paolo Guerrero shot a hammer, German international and Hannover's goalkeeper Robert Enke couldn't save the ball, which reached Petric who used this opportunity to a poacher's goal.

    At the 69th minute, a penalty was given to Hannover 96 due to a hand ball, and Hannover's striker Mikael Forssell made it with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

    Thanks to the important three points, Hamburg overtook Stuttgart and equalized Bayern with 54 points, just three points behind Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg.

    Also on Sunday, Hertha jumped to fourth place with 52 points after they staged a marvellous 2-1 comeback battle against Werder Bremen.

    During the first half, Hertha were under consistent pressure from visiting Bremen. German international Per Mertesacker opened the scoring from a corner two minutes before half-time for the guests.

    At the beginning of the second half, Hertha seemed still underfierce offensive. It took them 25 minutes until Hertha defender Josip Simunic equalised with a header from the center of the box to the top right corner.

    Hertha's morale was robust ever since then, Brazilian forward Raffael gave the club's European ambitions a major boost with a come-back goal at the 87th minute, also ending Hertha's three consecutive defeats.