Hertha Berlin's John Brooks endures Hoffenheim horror

Berlin: Hertha Berlin defender John Brooks had a Bundesliga afternoon to forget after giving away his side`s first two goals in their 5-0 thrashing at home to Hoffenheim on Sunday.

The USA international turned the ball into his own net on 23 minutes at Berlin`s Olympic Stadium, then gave away a penalty three minutes later when he fouled Hoffenheim striker Sven Schipplock.

Bosnia midfielder Sejad Salihovic drilled home the penalty, but things went from bad to worse for Berlin.

Brook`s team-mate Nico Schulz was unlucky to concede a penalty after nudging Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck who dropped to the pitch on 39 minutes and Salihovic converted his second spot-kick.

Hertha failed to put up a fight in the second-half as Schipplock added to the hosts` misery when he walked the ball into an empty net on 74 minutes after Hoffenheim ripped the Berlin defence to pieces on a counter-attack.

Germany international Sebastian Rudy then came off the Hoffenheim bench to grab their fifth goal.

This was seventh-placed Hoffenheim`s biggest victory in their seven years in Germany`s top flight while Hertha, 13th, have now leaked nine goals in their last two games after drawing 4-4 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.

On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund`s Bundesliga crisis deepened as they suffered their tenth defeat of the season in losing 2-1 at fellow strugglers Werder Bremen to drop to second from bottom.

Bremen`s 19-year-old striker Davie Selke curled in a superb early goal from 15 metres out, then Bremen midfielder Fin Bartels converted Selke`s cross on 62 minutes.

Dortmund`s Mats Hummels pulled a goal back when he headed home unmarked at a corner, but it was no more than a consolation.

Second-placed Wolfsburg fought back to claim a 2-1 home win against mid-table Cologne later which trimmed Bayern Munich`s lead at the top of the table back to 11 points.

Defender Dominic Maroh gave Cologne a shock lead after just 11 minutes before Dutch striker Bas Dost equalised five minutes later.

Brazil defender Naldo, who scored Wolfsburg`s equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Dortmund on Wednesday, then headed the winner from a corner 12 minutes from time.

Bayer Leverkusen stay third after coming from behind for a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Eintracht captain Alexander Meier converted a penalty to make him the league`s top scorer with 13 goals in 16 games before Leverkusen`s Germany winger Karim Bellarabi equalised seven minutes from time.

Roberto di Matteo`s Schalke 04 stay fifth after being held to a goalless draw at home to Hamburg.

Stuttgart remain above the bottom three places after their goalless draw at home to Paderborn.

Augsburg fought back for a 2-1 win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach, who took the lead after only two minutes when Max Kruse converted a penalty before midfielder Markus Feulner and striker Raul Bobadilla scored either side of half-time.

On Friday, Bayern broke more league records as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben scored in their 2-1 comeback win at Mainz after Colombia midfielder Elkin Soto had given the hosts` a shock first-half lead.

The Mainz result saw Bayern claim new records for the fewest goals conceded in the first-half of a Bundesliga season and their 11-point lead after 17 games is also a new best mark.