FRANKFURT, Germany : Bayer Leverkusen scored the fastest goal of the season on Sunday and beat Hertha Berlin 2-1 in the Bundesliga return for its new coach, moving up one place into fourth.
In the late match, Hoffenheim beat Augsburg 2-0 to come within two points of its opponent in eighth place.
Stefan Kiessling notched his 15th goal of the season with a header 40 seconds after kickoff to give Leverkusen a flying start under interim coach Sascha Lewandowski. Lewandowski was co-trainer until he quit a year ago, leaving Sami Hyypia in sole charge of the team. Hyypia was fired eight days ago.
Leverkusen doubled the lead after Anis Ben-Hatira had hit the post for Berlin. Son Heung-min collected the rebound, launched a quick counterattack and found Julian Brandt, who chipped over goalkeeper Thomas Kraft.
Sandro Wagner pulled one back for Hertha with a header in the 38th.
Hoffenheim controlled its match against Augsburg and went ahead in the 19th when Sejad Salihovic curled a left-foot free kick over the wall into the lower left corner. Augsburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitzdived to his left but failed to turn the ball around the post.
Salihovic now has 11 goals this season, 10 of them from free kicks.
Hoffenheim secured its 200th Bundesliga victory in the 41st. Hitz failed to punch a corner far enough and Tarik Elyounoussi fired at the goal. Paul Verhaegh cleared on the line but Jannik Vestergaard headed the ball back into the net.
