LEVERKUSEN MOVE FURTHER FORWARD

Despite falling behind to Hamburg league leaders Bayer Leverkusen
extended the best ever starting record in the Bundesliga to an
unbeaten 14 games now. Meanwhile Bayern's B+ side with Linke,
Tarnat and Jancker only managed a drab 0-0 draw against struggling
Nürnberg. Werder Bremen, without a doubt the team of the hour,
gave last seasons' runner-up Schalke their first beating at the
new Arena putting four behind former Werder 'keeper Reck.

All match reviews by Tim Leidecker <tim@milanmania.com> unless otherwise
stated.

25 NOVEMBER 2001

DORTMUND			3-0		KAISERSLAUTERN
Ewerthon 77
Amoroso 86 (Pen), 90

West "cleared" Wörns' cross to Ricken and then handballed Ricken's cross
into the run of Ewerthon who fired past Koch. Klos lost a running duel
against Amoroso after having a 10m advantage (!), then capped it off by
hacking the Brasilian in the box, Marcio with his 8th of the season from
the spot. Amoroso boosted the result into unrealistic hights with a
whack across goal courtesy of Metzelder's through pass.

Assists: Ricken, Amoroso, Metzelder
Attendance: 67,000


FREIBURG			1-3		1860 MÜNCHEN
Zeyer 28						Borimirov 23
						Häßler 40
						Schroth 67

Šuker was on the bench for the first time for 1860. After a series of
corner kicks 60 went ahead through Borimirov. Sweeper Lars Hermel cut
back Tskitishvili's loooooooong cross, Zeyer tapped in the equalizer.
Häßler brought the "Löwen" back into the lead after running through
4 (!) defenders and lifting the ball over Jentzsch for a World Class
finish! Munich's Blues made the game safe after the break, Häßler
split the SCF defense with a perfect through pass & Wiesinger centred
for Schroth who tapped in at the far post.

Assists: Häßler, Hermel, Wiesinger
Attendance: 24,500


24 NOVEMBER 2001

BAYERN MÜNCHEN		0-0		NÜRNBERG

63,000 at the sold out Olympic Stadium saw this "Battle of Bavaria".
Tarnat's long punt sent Jancker clear of the FCN defense, Nikl caught
up to him and tugged his shirt, Jancker took a tumble, penalty and as
Nikl was last man he was lucky to escape with yellow! Pizarro stepped
up to the plate but Kampa had as much trouble saving his weakly and
centrally struck spot kick as with taking candy away from a baby!

Effe was subbed at half time, in Niko Kovac another long time
convalescent came on in his place. Nürnberg had some good chances
through Tavcar and Krzynówek following trademark Linke blunders.
Kampa was once again outstanding in goal for Nürnberg and saved
his club a point against Bayern who will have to do without key
workhorse Salihamidzic for 5 months!

Attendance: 63,000 (sold out)


LEVERKUSEN			4-1		HAMBURG
Ballack 14					Albertz 7
Neuville 27, 58, 63

Pieckenhagen had to make a great save against his former teammate
Neuville already in the 3rd minute. Ex-HSVer Butt parried Groth's
centre strait down the middle, "fan favourite" Albertz (was jeered
and whistled by the HSV fans last week!) tapped into an empty net.
Ballack equalized with a classy backheel flick from Neuville's free
kick, great goal, his 8th of the season.

Oliver Neuville turned the match around completely 13 minutes later
crashing home Zé Roberto's cross. Albertz forced Butt into a great
save with one of his trademark hammer free kicks from well over 30m
out! Kirsten cleared with a scissor kick in his own box (!) after
Butt spilled Barbarez' header and Ulf's old strike partner Meijer
was about to capitalize.

Zé Roberto intercepted Maltritz' terrible hospital pass, passed on
to Neuville and "Little Olli" rounded (!) Hertzsch with the ball
before slotting past Piecke for the 3-1. The pair linked up again
for a 3rd time 5 minutes later to give "Zé" a hattrick of assists
and Neuville a hattrick of goals! Leverkusen coach Toppmöller was
quoted after this great game: "Hamburg was lucky to only concede
4 goals today".

The league leader after 14 games has won the league in 23 out of 38
cases.

Juventus, are you ready for this?

Assists: Neuville, Zé Roberto (x3)
Attendance: 22,500 (sold out)


SCHALKE			1-4		BREMEN
Sand 58						Bode 20
						Aílton 28
						Lisztes 49
						Skripnik 51 (Pen)

Slack defending gave Aílton an easy time to centre and Marco Bode beat
Van Hoogdalem to the ball to make it 1-0 Werder. It was Bode's 97th goal
for the Green & White which makes him Werder's joint-all time topscorer
(Rudi Völler, Frank Neubarth are the others). Aílton doubled the lead
from Frings' through pass, Waldoch had to make a last second save on the
line against Bode after a similar move that led to the 0-1 or else S04
would've even been down 0-3 after 30 minutes!

4 minutes into the 2nd half Lisztes swapped passes with Tjikuzu on the
counter attack before scoring with the kind of beautiful chips from just
inside the box which only Luis Figo does usually! Frings won a penalty
2 minutes later, Skripnik converted. Sand headed in Hajto's cross for
the consolation, he also headed against the woodwork minutes later.
Werder had the last chance though: Bode, wide open, drilled over the
crossbar from 11m.

7 out of the last 8 -- scary! Next: Leverkusen!

Assists: Aílton, Frings (x2), Tjikuzu, Hajto
Attendance: 60,204 (sold out)


COTTBUS			0-0		STUTTGART

Left back Wenzel struck the crossbar with a bouncing header.
Scherbe was sent off for kicking Seitz who was on the ground.
Cottbus was plain awful, Stuttgart should have won easily with
a little better exploitation of their chances.

Red Card: Scherbe 88 (Cottbus)
Attendance: 13,780


WOLFSBURG			3-1		MÖNCHENGLADBACH
Maric 6						Van Houdt 65
Petrov 22
Róbson Ponté 57

Petrov absolutely destroyed Eberl and Korell on the wing, cut to the
touchline, Maric had zero trouble nodding in his perfectly-timed cross.
The Bulgarian international striker then scored the 2-0 himself with a
low drive from the edge of the box, he was lucky as his shot deflected
off Pletsch though.

Again Petrov, this time with a little less luck, his distance shot
crashed off the crossbar. Róbson Ponté added a third from Maric's
through pass. Van Houdt pulled one back from "Kü" Küntzel's through
pass. Reitmaier made a great double save against an Asanin header
and Van Lent follow-up minutes later.

Petrov and Róbson Ponté are without a doubt the technically most
sophisticated attacking duo in the Bundesliga, they sometimes even
remind me of Stoichkov - Romário... If Petrov keeps on producing
with such consistancy a move to one of Europe's top clubs is only
a matter of time.

Assists: Petrov, Róbson Ponté, Maric, Küntzel
Attendance: 14,493


ROSTOCK			1-1		BERLIN
Rydlewicz 67 (Pen)				Rehmer 82

Hansa "Knipser" Beierle was guilty of missing a major chance when
he only struck the crossbar all alone in front of goal. Beierle
also hit the post at the hour mark from Lantz' free kick. Rostock
were awarded a penalty after Sverrisson allegedly held Schröder in
the box, Rydlewicz didn't care and made no mistake from the spot.
Rehmer poked in the flattering equalizer from Sverrisson's centre.
Hertha was visibly floored after playing Servette only 48 hours
before.

Assists: Schröder, Sverrisson
Attendance: 14,700


ST. PAULI			1-2		KÖLN
Gibbs 88						Sinkala 28
						Zellweger 31

Köln fielded an almost new defense as Swiss international left back
Marc Zellweger and Cameroon skipper Rigobert Song who were signed in
midweek made their debuts in this game. Kurth rose higher than Amadou
as he headed ex-St. Paulianer Scherz' cross back across goal to Sinkala
who uncontestedly nodded in.

Zellweger slid in Reich's free kick. Bulat whacked a goal kick strait
at Reeb who in a mix of surprise and pity failed to score all alone in
front of goal. Amadou struck the crossbar after Pröll dropped a long
cross. Corey Gibbs headed in Rahn's cross for the late consolation.
Patschinski was red carded for a late tackle on another ex-Paulianer,
Springer.

Köln's first win after 2½ months!

Assists: Kurth, Reich, Rahn
Red Card: Patschinski 90 (St. Pauli)
Attendance: 19,617 (sold out)


Ciao,

Tim

tim@milanmania.com
http://milanmania.com
http://soccer-europe.com