RUHRPOTT RULES GERMANY
Kaiserslautern needed two late goals to see off Köln. A Hansa double strike
plunges Leverkusen into mediocrity. A World Class Iashvili helped Freiburg cruise
past Cottbus. Fahrenhorst's dream goal inspired Bochum to their first home victory.
Hero Heldt boosts to victory over Lions.
Dortmund roll to their 3rd consecutive away victory at the expense of Hamburg.
Bayern goes back to the top of the table after a compulsory exercise against little
neighbour Unterhaching. Ali Daei makes sure Hertha keeps its perfect home
record. Rost saves Werder a surprise point against a toothless Schalke.
15 SEPTEMBER 2000
KAISERSLAUTERN 3-1 KÖLN
Djorkaeff 10 (pen) Timm 18
Ramzy 88
Komljenovic 90
The Red Devils got off to the better start, a longball by Ramzy sprung onto the
hand of Sichone during a tussle with Lokvenc, referee Strampe awarded a spot
kick which DJ converted for his first goal of the season.
It took Köln less then 10 minutes to pull one back, the hard-working Arveladze won
a free kick near the area which the highly talented Timm whacked in thanks to
poor positioning of the wall by 'keeper Georg Koch.
2 late goals from Ramzy (headed in Grammozis free kick) and Komljenovic (tapped
in Reich's centre) gave 'Lautern full 3 points in a game that looked like a safe draw
after 20 minutes.
New Devil Grammozis got himself sent off for a rude foul on Cichon.
Red Card : Grammozis 89 (Kaiserslautern)
Attendance : 39,733
16 SEPTEMBER 2000
LEVERKUSEN 1-2 ROSTOCK
Rink 48 Arvidsson 33
Breitkreutz 38
Bayer had the first big chance of the match, Rink beautifully killed Ballack's cross,
juggled a couple of times and then fed Neuville who blasted straight at
Pieckenhagen. Kirsten limped off with a torn muscle after 21 minutes.
Ballack unbelievably missed the empty net from 25 meters after a hospital pass
from Pieckenhagen. Hansa's 'keeper then blasted a huge goal kick upfield,
Baumgart headed it on to Arvidsson who managed to beat Zuberbühler for the
surprise lead and Hansa's first goal of the season.
Leverkusen's defense seemed to be firmly under control of another massive punt
upfield by Pieckenhagen when Kovac gifted Breitkreutz the ball on the edge of
the box and the Hansa playmaker with the diminutive feet (size 4½) hammered
the ball into the roof - what a goal !
Breitkreutz hadn't scored a goal since April against, yes, Leverkusen. It also was
Bayer's 1000th goal against in their Bundesliga history. Nowotny could've pulled
one back just before half time but fired wide. Rink did shortly after the half time
tea with a walloping header from Gresko's corner.
Neuville blew a sitter against his old club after another corner from the Slovak
winger. Leverkusen had 34 shots on goal (Hansa: 7) and 61% possession but
without Kirsten they cannot find the back of the net. It was only the 5th home
game in the past 4 years Bayer has lost.
Attendance : 22,000
FREIBURG 4-1 COTTBUS
Iashvili 53, 60 Labak 90
Baya 88
Weißhaupt 89
Piplica had to start working early, the Cottbus 'keeper brilliantly saved Iashvili's
4th minute shot. Müller headed Tskitishvili's corner against the post for the best
chance of the first half. Piplica made another great save against Iashvili but Baya
swung the ball back in and the little Georgian nodded past the helpless 'keeper.
A phenomenally direct 4-pass-move was again finished off by Iashvili to make it
2-0, Sebõk providing the final 'pass' though with a tackle on Baya which fell
straight to Iashvili's feet. Freiburg's #9 then abused Reghecampf with
announcement, centred, Baya swept the ball past Piplica.
Baya then knocked down Coulibaly's delicious cross and passed the ball on to
Weißhaupt who made it 4-0. Miriuta put through Labak a minute later, Cottbus'
Croatian forward fired past Golz for the consolation goal. It was the 3rd time in
5 games that Cottbus conceded 3 or more goals.
Attendance : 24,500
BOCHUM 2-1 WOLFSBURG
Maric 18 (pen) Rische 82
Fahrenhorst 48
Nowak kicked fresh air on a routine clearance, Kryger hacked down Freier in the
area and Maric (playing for the hugely disappointing Weber) dispatched the
awarded penalty kick for Bochum's first home goal of the season.
Fahrenhorst, just into the game for 3 minutes, hammered Mandreko's corner
under the bar with a spectacular falling sideway kick. Maric blazed Bastürk's
opening cross over the bar. Nowak flicked Kühbauer's corner to Rische who pulled
one back with a spectacular overhead kick - 2 super goals in 1 game !
Attendance : 14,107
FRANKFURT 1-0 1860 MÜNCHEN
Reichenberger 31
Reichenberger first blew a 1-on-1 chance with Jentzsch and "Baby Kirsten" then
wide-openly headed in Heldt's corner at the far post. Heldt struck the post
against his old club after a great solo. Jentzsch did well to keep out Wimmer's
wickedly curled corner.
Chen Yang struck the post on the counter attack. Kurz clearly fouled Heldt within
the area but ref Krug only awarded a free kick. Heinen denied Kurz just before the
end of the game to keep all 3 points in Frankfurt and hand the Löwen their first
defeat of the season.
Attendance : 25,600
HAMBURG 2-3 DORTMUND
Barbarez 44, 49 Addo 30
Herrlich 76, 81 (pen)
Lehmann rushed out of his goal to deny Barbarez. Butt had to do the same at the
other end against Addo. Aggressive pressing by Addo forced a turnover from
Hertzsch, Evanílson with the through pass back to Addo who rolled into the area
and held off the Hertzscher in the process before finishing with authority.
Ricken splashed into the area but as the cross sailed in he shot just wide. Barbarez
headed in Mahdavikia's cross against his old team - what satisfaction for the man
who never really warmed up in Dortmund. Hamburg then even took the lead, again
through the white-hot Bosnian who headed in Mahdavikia's free kick.
Back came the Borussia, revived goalgetter Heiko Herrlich first tapped in Reina's
cross pass and then 'Double H' completely turned the game around from the
penalty spot after Hertzsch pulled down Reina in the box. Hamburg seems to be
facing a similar situation Hertha BSC did last season i.e. they have to pay tribute
to their CL heroics in the BuLi.
Attendance : 46,694
BAYERN MÜNCHEN 3-1 UNTERHACHING
Élber 37 Schwarz 21
Scholl 70 (pen)
Jancker 83
Schwarz was allowed to run free in midfield so he took matters into his own hands
and sent a long range deflected shot past reserve 'keeper Wessels who played in
place of the injured Kahn. Hargreaves beautifully fed Élber, the comebacker easily
rounded Bayern reject Grassow before firing past Tremmel.
Haber shoved Brazzo in the back as he was trying to head at goal, penalty,
converted as usual by Scholli. Brazzo centred for Jancker and Bayern's super
in-form striker sent a left-footed volley past the 'keeper for the final result. Bayern
was fielding an experimental side but still won the "Little Bayern Derby"
comfortably.
Attendance : 48,000
17 SEPTEMBER 2000
HERTHA 2-0 STUTTGART
Daei 77
Alex Alves 79
Hildebrand pipped a ferocious Tretschok drive over the bar to prevent the VfB
from falling behind early. Beinlich headed Deisler's corner just over. 'Bad Boy'
Alex Alves kicked fresh air (as Brasilian!) from Beinlich's centre. Stuttgart did not
have a single shot on goal in the first half.
Király made a good save from Balakov's 2nd row shot. Daei who came on for the
once again disappointing Roy received the ball from Hartmann in midfield, muscled
his way past Thiam (!) and sent an unbelievable long range bullet past the
helpless Hildebrand from well over 25 meters out.
Asia's footballer of the year then fed Alex Alves with a perfect through pass,
Double A this time without any problems as he put the ball through the braces of
Hildebrand with a no-look shot. In the end Stuttgart did too little offensively and
then Ali Daei came on and decided the game.
Hertha : 3 home games, 3 home wins, 10-0 goals.
Attendance : 32,980
SCHALKE 1-1 BREMEN
Böhme 55 (pen) Aílton 50
Schalke was without Ebbe Sand who was out with the flu, Werder coach Thomas
Schaaf left playmaker Andi Herzog on the bench. The green-white Werder, this
time playing in red again, got off to the better start, long-time Werder 'keeper
Reck had to make a spectacular catch-save from Ernst's thumping shot.
Frank Rost made a fantastic diving save at the other end to keep out Mpenza's
running drive. Böhme stung Rost's palms with a tremendous shot early into the
2nd half. Stalteri flicked onto Eilts' free kick and Aílton swept Oude Kamphuis' weak
clearance past Reck to give Werder the shock lead.
Asamoah won a penalty, Böhme converted. Werder had claims for a penalty of
their own turned down when Hajto handballed in the box. Schalke had a strong
finish but didn't create any clear chances and are overall only mediocre when their
dream attack isn't playing together. Werder played well and deserved (at least)
the point.
Attendance : 45,025
Ciao,
Tim
tim@milanmania.com
http://milanmania.com
http://soccer-europe.com
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