BERLIN (Reuters) - Filip Kostic struck with four minutes left to rescue a precious point for struggling Hamburg SV in a 1-1 draw at home to Hannover 96 on Sunday.
Despite the point, Hamburg, the only ever-present club in the Bundesliga since it was founded in 1963, remained mired in the drop zone with 17 points, three behind Mainz 05 who are in the relegation playoff spot.
Iver Fossum put Hannover ahead in the 37th minute, collecting a loose ball outside the penalty area and firing an unstoppable shot past Christian Mathenia.
The visitors hung on until a free kick found Kostic at the far post and the Serbian turned the ball in from close range.
It was Hamburg's second successive draw since Bernd Hollerbach was appointed as coach to try to lead them to safety.
Hamburg defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos was sent off in stoppage time.
Eintracht Frankfurt missed a chance to go second when they were thumped 3-0 at Augsburg. Instead, the Eagles were left in sixth place, one place and two points ahead of their opponents who are enjoying one of their best-ever seasons.
Koo Ja-Cheol fired Augsburg ahead in the 19th minute after he collected a loose ball, turned and shot into the bottom corner.
Michael Gregoritsch provided an even better finish to score Augsburg's second goal in the 76th minute, controlling Caiuby's header with his left foot before turning to volley home with his right. Marco Richter added the third.
Bayern Munich, 2-0 winners at Mainz on Saturday, are runaway leaders with 53 points, 18 clear of Bayer (DE:BAYGN) Leverkusen and RB Leipzig.