Heidenheim hang on for point at RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw with struggling Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Heidenheim took a shock sixth-minute lead through Mathias Honsak, whose sublime shot from outside the box left the hosts rattled.

Things got even better for the visitors when Leipzig captain Willi Orban was adjudged to have clipped Marvin Pieringer in the box.

Despite Orban's protests, Pieringer dusted himself down and calmly slotted in his second of his two penalties this season.

Heidenheim, who came into this game second bottom of the Bundesliga and without a league victory in six, had goalkeeper Kevin Mueller to thank for keeping them in the contest.

But in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Leipzig found a lifeline.

Benjamin Sesko cushioned Kevin Kampl's cross into the path of Ikoma Lois Openda with the Belgian finding the bottom corner to halve Heidenheim's lead.

Leipzig dominated the second half and restored parity through a controversial penalty in the 64th minute.

Heidenheim defender Tim Siersleben was punished for putting a hand in Openda's face.

It was a decision that was subject to an extended VAR review, but the referee's original ruling stood, and Sesko cooly slotted in from 12 yards.

Leipzig threw the kitchen sink at Heidenheim in an absorbing finale but the visitors dug deep to secure a valuable point — their first since January 15 — in their quest to avoid relegation.

Leipzig meanwhile missed the chance to return to the top four, treading water in sixth.