HAMBURG, August 12 (Bundesliga) - Hamburg kicked off the new Bundesliga season with a disappointing 1-1 draw with Arminia Bielefeld.

Germany under-21 striker Christian Eigler had handed the visitors a first half lead but Boubacar Sanogo rescued Thomas Doll's side midway through the second half.

Hamburg had the first real effort on goal as Rafael van der Vaart fired over from distance, while at the other end Rudiger Kauf fired wide from the edge of the area.

Hamburg goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein was called into action with just over 15 minutes as he beat away Ioannis Masmanidis' close range shot.

The visitors took the lead after Arthur Wichniarek found Eigler and the former SpVgg Greuther Furth forward surged goalwards before unleashing a stunning shot from outside of the area which deflected off the post on its way past Kirschstein.

Van der Vaart looked to get his side back on level terms just before the break but his right footed shot was blocked by the visitors defence.

Bastian Reinhardt wasted a golden opportunity for Hamburg in the opening minutes of the second half as he headed Van der Vaart's dangerous cross too close to Mathias Hain in the Arminia goal.

Sanogo saw his effort cleared by the Arminia defence as the home side pushed for an equaliser, while Thorben Marx fired wide as the visitors looked to double their advantage.

Hamburg got their breakthrough on 67 minutes as Sanogo headed home Piotr Trochowski pin-point set-piece.

Trochowski looked to snatch all three points for Hamburg in the closing stages but his long range strike failed to trouble the Arminia defence.