Denis Undav s last-gasp Bundesliga leveller salvaged a 3-3 draw for Stuttgart against Heidenheim, who thought they had completed a remarkable turnaround moments earlier on Sunday.
Undav s 98th-minute equaliser kept Stuttgart four points clear of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund as Sebastian Hoeness side continue to chase Champions League qualification.
Hoeness’ hosts appeared to be cruising after Serhou Guirassy and Angelo Stiller were both on target in either half at MHPArena but home goalkeeper Alexander Nubel s own goal laid the foundations for late drama.
Tim Kleindienst capitalised with two quickfire strikes to snatch an unlikely Heidenheim lead with five minutes remaining, yet Undav provided the last twist to snatch a share of the spoils.
90.+8 | 3:3
— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB)
Stuttgart thought they had managed an eighth-minute opener when Guirassy powered home from the edge of the penalty area after Undaz’s offload, though a VAR check ruled the strike out for offside.
Undav s threaded pass then found Chris Fuhrich but his driven effort was saved well by Kevin Muller, who would be left helpless as the hosts found a breakthrough before the interval.
Guirassy arrived in the perfect position to convert a delivery from Stiller, who placed the ball on a plate for the 41st-minute opener.
Stuttgart doubled their lead after the break as Stiller played a smart one-two with Undav, before the German midfielder slotted the ball under Muller.
Heidenheim were gifted a glimmer of hope as Nubel made an inexplicable mistake when failing to hold Kleindienst’s header – and the visiting striker would further punish the hosts.
Kleindienst fired home a volley from a Jan-Niklas Beste cross in the 84th minute, before powering a header past Nubel from Eren Dinkci s centre just moments later.
Yet with just seconds remaining, Undav pounced inside the box to unleash a thunderous shot into the bottom corner, salvaging a late point for the hosts.
Stuttgart fail to take advantage of Bayern loss
Stuttgart may be putting up a strong fight to finish in the Champions League places this season, but they missed an ideal opportunity to go within a point of second-placed Bayern Munich.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were defeated by Dortmund at home on Saturday, though this result means Stuttgart stay three points behind the Bundesliga champions.
This draw, at least, saw Stuttgart extend to nine Bundesliga games unbeaten, their longest such run since an eight-match undefeated streak from February to March 2018.
Heidenheim s winless run extends
Heidenheim have now become the first side in the Bundesliga this season to avoid defeat twice against Stuttgart after a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.
However, Schmitd’s men extended their winless run to six games after Undav’s late strike levelled proceedings, despite the best efforts of Kleindienst who had initially helped turn things around with a brace.
That run without victory is the promoted club’s longest winless run in the competition to date. Since the mid-season break, Heidenheim have won just one of their 11 Bundesliga matches.
