Ze Roberto looked to have set the hosts on their way early in the match but Marco Russ levelled the scores against the run of play with a sweetly struck volley.
Great start
Former FC Bayern München star Ze Roberto (8') gave Hamburg a dream start when German international Piotr Trochowski's strike was parried into the path of Mladen Petric by Frankfurt goalkeeper Oka Nikolov. The Croatian star laid across for the awaiting Ze Roberto who duly put the visitors in front.
Surprise equaliser
However, despite being under pressure for much of the opening period, Frankfurt hit back with a surprise equaliser just after the half an hour mark. A flowing move by the home side which began with Nikos Liberopoulos on the halfway line was finished off by onrushing Marco Russ (32') who volleyed home from just inside the box.
Missed chances
Hamburg continued to dominate the match and should have tied the three points up based on the sheer number of chances they created. Jonathan Pitriopa, Trochowski and Romeo Castelen all went close in the second period, but Hamburg were unable to finish off their tame hosts and indeed almost went home empty handed when Alexander Meier headed just wide in the dying seconds.
Top for a time
Frankfurt boss Michael Skibbe will undoubtedly be the more satisfied with the point, while Hamburg miss the chance to give themselves a cushion at the top the table. While the draw keeps them abreast of the rest for the immediate future, Leverkusen surpass them at the summit with a home victory over Bremen in the late kick off.
