NO WINNERS, ONLY LOSERS
Bayern continue to be in slumping form after Champions League matches,
they allow Köln to take a point off them at the Olympiastadion. Their
nearest rivals Schalke & Dortmund cannot capitalize on the Champions'
slip-up either -- they play out a dull, boring, gutless, goalless draw.
Leverkusen took the cake this weekend though by losing at home against
relegation candidate Cottbus.
23 FEBRUARY 2001
LEVERKUSEN 1-3 COTTBUS
Zé Roberto 74 Miriuta 33, 62
Labak 42
An undisputed World Class display by former Rumanian, now Hungarian
playmaker Vasile Miriuta won Cottbus their first road game in their
short Bundesliga history, in Leverkusen of all places ! The perhaps
best playmaker in the league was called to action for the first time
when Ramelow mowed down Micevski and handballed at the same time,
Miriuta stepped up and blasted his 5th directly converted free kick
of the season past the awfully slow Zuberbühler.
The bald headed midfielder then proceeded to make the 2nd goal as
well, his cross was met by Croatian "goal-fogger" Labak with a nice
diving header just inside the area which once again caught the Bayer
'keeper out of position. Miriuta placed his name on the scoreboard
for the 2nd time in this game after he ran onto Micevski's through
pass and coolly placed the ball past Zuberbühler. Zé Roberto scored
the consolation from Rink's pass. [TL]
Attendance : 22,000
24 FEBRUARY 2001
HERTHA - UNTERHACHING
Ppd/snow. [TL]
Attendance : n/a
HAMBURG 3-2 WOLFSBURG
Meijer 31 Sebescen 11
Barbarez 45 Müller 71
Mahdavikia 62
"HSV-expert" Sebescen gave the guests the lead against the run of play
with a stiff blast from 20+ meters out, his 8th Bundesliga goal, 4th
against Hamburg. New captain Hoogma denied Maric the certain 0-2 with
a crucial clearance on the line. Barbarez released Mahdaviakia on the
wing, Meijer poked in his centre for the equalizer. Hoogma launched a
longball into attack which tore the Wolves' back four apart, Barbarez
pounced onto it and lobbed it over Reitmaier who remained stuck like
concrete on his goalline for far too long. Barbarez' 15th goal of the
season.
Hamburg came out dangerous in the 2nd half as well, Mahdavikia blasted
the ball against the crossbar. Hollerbach then found "Kia" with a great
diagonal pass over 50 meters, the Iranian international headed the ball
to Barbarez who returned him the favour so he could whack across goal
for the 3-1. The HSV now sat on their lead, young midfield substitute
Sven Müller punished it by pulling one back for Wolfsburg from Cardoso's
hair-raising hospital pass only 6 minutes after coming on. Maric missed
a 90th minute sitter so Hamburg could keep their much-needed 3 points.
[TL]
Attendance : 35,355
FREIBURG 0-3 1860 MÜNCHEN
Borimirov 36, 43
Schroth 50
60 was without their "creative department" of Häßler & Mykland (sick &
injured), the result was the Löwen were playing some effective football
for a change. But first it was Freiburg, Jentzsch had to make a terrific
save from Weißhaupt's half volley. Zeyer headed against the crossbar.
On the very counterattack after Freiburg hit wood "Sechzig" took the
lead through Borimirov who beat 'keeper Golz for the first time in 510
minutes with a tap-in from Schroth's centre.
Golz then also gifted 1860 their 2nd, instead of drilling the ball into
the stands he dribbled around and then played it into the heels of Max
whose shot he could barely save but again Borimirov was there to beat
him with a delicate lob. After the break Schroth even increased the lead
with a powerful shot into the far angle. Zeyer struck the crossbar once
more from Kobiashvili's centre but lady luck just didn't wear red &
black this afternoon.
Freiburg's 10 game unbeaten streak ends at the hands of 1860. [TL]
Attendance : 25,000 (sold out)
BAYERN MÜNCHEN 1-1 KÖLN
Jancker 65 Kreuz 25
Bayern started off applying pressure but not very coherently,
creating few actual chances. Köln, along with Bayern the strongest
counterattacking side in the Bundesliga, actually came out and played
themselves for the first 10 minutes or so. They were more courageous
in taking their possibilities for long shots. Timm danced around
Salihamidzic and fired into the side netting just outside the post.
Lottner took a long blast which was nevertheless their best chance of
the first 15 minutes. Tarnat shanked a free kick well to the left of
goal.
Köln's best counters were straight down the middle, and on one they
had a 4 on 4 with all the players bunched within about 20 meters.
I had just remarked that the attacker in the middle would have been
through but the guy with the ball hesitated to pass. Then he passed
ahead and to his right to Kreuz, who held Lizarazu off with his
shoulder while controlling the ball (very Élber-like). The middle
defender (Linke, I think), had to worry about the fourth attacker
coming down the middle, and Kahn went too far to his left. Kreuz
hit a classy no-look roller inside the far post for the 0-1. Bayern
couldn't get much going, with Jancker particularly out of the play,
Élber not passing well, and Scholl on the bench.
In the second half, Bayern really warmed up, with Scholl coming in for
Tarnat at the beginning, and as a sign of things to come Jancker started
hitting several dangerous passes. Scholl was unlucky not to score on
one of two blasts hit just wide (one each from 45 degrees on either
side) in the first 5 minutes. Köln were completely trapped, launching
no more dangerous attacks until much later. Bayern, as against Haching,
completely owned this phase but got nothing for it, with either a good
tackle made by a Köln defender or a shot going just wide, or the last
pass hit behind its target. Very frustrating. Then Jancker got his head
to a free kick by Scholl and put in the equaliser.
Bayern didn't let up, but their strength started to fade and Köln
got back into it. Their passing was not as good as in the first half,
however, and they only got one real chance in the second half. There
were two scenes, one each at 70' and 80', where Bayern sent a high ball
into the Kölner area and the ball was handled. I will have to see the
replays on these but they happened in front of our seats and I think at
least one of them should have been called. Köln got a good chance right
at the end but the crossing pass was hit out by either Linke or Jeremies
for a corner. The corner was well taken but hit out by Bayern.
Köln will consider themselves very fortunate to have taken this point.
They played well, especially on defense, but they created a lot more
chances in their home loss than in this game. Perhaps one point for the
two matches in aggregate is deserved. Bayern failed again to take
advantage of their chasers not winning: Leverkusen lost at home 1-3 to
Cottbus(!), while the big Schalke - Dortmund derby ended 0-0. Bayern
remain on top, followed by Dortmund and Schalke both two back, and
Leverkusen four back. [BS]
Attendance : 36,000
SCHALKE 0-0 DORTMUND
Poor, ugly game with lots of fouls, free kicks but still little action
inside the area. Van Hoogdalem had the biggest chance for Schalke with
a header off a free kick, Reina went close for Dortmund but Reck saved
well against the bald attacker. You could clearly see that both teams
played with handbrakes on and didn't want to lose. Dortmund can live
better with this draw but seing as Schalke was without Van Kerckhoven,
Waldoch, Oude Kamphuis, Thon and Asamoah they should have gone for
the win. [TL]
Attendance: 62,109 (sold out)
FRANKFURT 1-2 BREMEN
Baumann 90 (og) Aílton 21
Pizarro 89
Werder approached the game with a "No money...for the pitch. We win,
you grab your shit and find a different place to run. Not just today...
forever! You win, and we don't come back. No hitching, no fighting,
here in front of everyone. Nil-nil, our ball."-attitude. Frankfurt
was visibly impressed.
Pizarro played a beautiful lob over the top of the Eintracht defense,
Aílton easily held off old man Bindewald and tapped the ball past
Heinen. Heldt almost scored the equalizer after turning Baumann inside
out but his chip shot rebounded off the crossbar.
Guié-Mien won a penalty 5 minutes into the 2nd half but Heldt only
struck the post, his first missed spot kick this season. Eintracht
was then lucky not to concede a penalty of their own when Wimmer
handballed on the goalline but the ref didn't see/ignored it.
Substitutes Trares and Stalteri combined to give Pizarro a goal as
well, Trares won the ball with a great tackle, instantly released
Stalteri on the wing, the Canadian allrounder cruised into the box,
centred, and Pizarro fired past the 'keeper.
The directors were still showing replays of Claudio's goal when
Baumann beat his own 'keeper with a beautiful lob while attempting
to clear. Werder is the best team in 2001, 13 points from 5 games,
9-3 goals.
As a result the quartet of Rost, Baumann, Frings and Bode has been
nominated by DFB team boss Rudi Völler for Germany's friendly against
France on Tuesday. "Tante Käthe" also called FCK's rising attacking
star Miroslav Klose. Only Bode is expected to start though. [TL]
Attendance : 21,000
25 FEBRUARY 2001
BOCHUM 0-0 STUTTGART
Awful, awful game in the first half, the people in attendance really
should have gotten their money back! 2nd half was slightly better,
Schindzielorz had the biggest chance for Bochum but his efford was
denied by the post. After Ralf Rangnick resigned as VfB coach on
Friday Felix Magath took over - he starts with an away draw. [TL]
Attendance : 18,800
KAISERSLAUTERN 0-1 ROSTOCK
Salou 2
We're in the 1st minute: Free kick Basler, Lokvenc headed straight
at Pieckenhagen. The 'keeper started the counterattack with a long
throw, Rydlewicz beat the offside trap with a precise through pass
to Wibrån, the Swede found countryman Lantz with his centre, Lantz'
shot was barely parried away by 'keeper Koch and Salou arrived at
the far post to tap the ball back in - 1-0 Hansa after 2 minutes.
An once again outstanding Martin Pieckenhagen denied Kaiserslautern
the equalizer on at least a dozen occasions including two violent
Basler strikes which would have broken ordinary peoples' wrists and
one scene where he cleared 1 on 1 against FCK's huge forward Lokvenc
2 meters before the goal. Harry "Adonis" Koch was sent off for an
emergency brake with 15 minutes still to play. [TL]
Red Card : H Koch 76 (Kaiserslautern)
Attendance : 38,983
Ciao,
Tim
[TL] = Tim Leidecker
[BS] = Bruce Scott
http://milanmania.com
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