OH BAYERN...

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

27 JANUARY 2002

DORTMUND			3-1		HERTHA
Koller 7, 54					Neuendorf 71
Wörns 76

After the huge struggle in the winter break Sebastian Kehl, the latest
addidition to the "schwarz-gelbe Familie", made his debut for Borussia
and had a strong game. Another player who had a strong game was "Dino"
Koller who gave Dortmund a comfortable lead with two unstoppable
headers. Ewerthon won a penalty with the most blatant dive of the round
and was deservedly and duly punished when Fiedler saved his spot kick.

Marcelinho found Neuendorf with a no-look backheel pass and "Zecke" let
it rip from just outside the box for the 2-1, his 3rd goal from the
last 5 games (perhaps he should start, Herr Röber?). Wörns who just
extended his contract until 2006 headed in another Rosický corner which
proved to be the blow of death for Hertha.

Somehow I've gotten the impression that it's certain Röber will leave
at the end of the season he doesn't necessarily pick the best eleven
but rather players he likes and who have served him well in the past.
For example he keeps picking Fiedler over Király, Sverrisson over
Simunic or Tretschok over Beinlich. I might be wrong but this smacks
of goodbye gifts...

Assists: Reuter, Rosický (x2), Marcelinho
Attendance: 63,000


COTTBUS			2-1		BREMEN
Mátyus 41					Aílton 28
Topic 79

Borowski found the wide open Aílton who had little trouble scoring his
8th goal of the season with a well-placed left-footed stroke. Miriuta
swung in a corner, Bode headed fresh air and Mátyus headed Energie
level. Lisztes who did preciously little else all game volleyed against
the underside of the crossbar. Miriuta sent a "Hail Mary" lob into the
box, Verlaat completely missed the routine clearance and Milan-reject
Topic volleyed through Rost's braces for the game-winner.

Cottbus had not won a game in 5 months (!) before this one! Thus ends
Werder's 9-game unbeaten streak.

Assists: Borowski, Miriuta (x2)


26 JANUARY 2002

LEVERKUSEN			2-0		ROSTOCK
Zivkovic 76
Ballack 80 (Pen)

It was the first game for new Hansa coach Armin Veh in charge of the
team. Kirsten had the first remarkable chance of the match when he
headed against the crossbar after 30 minutes. Ballack had a thumping
header come back off the post. Zivkovic turned in Schneider's corner
after it rebounded off Weilandt's thigh.

Lange knocked down Brdaric in the box, Ballack sovereignly scored his
10th of the season from the spot. Within 4 minutes Bayer had won this
game against their bogey team. Bayer captain Jens Nowotny had an
absolute whale of a game in defense for the home side.

Assist: Brdaric
Attendance: 22,500 (sold out)


MÖNCHENGLADBACH		0-2		KAISERSLAUTERN
						Pletsch 76 (og)
						Pettersson 90

Koch made a good save from Münch's missile free kick. Ulich should have
won a penalty after being chopped down by Knavs, ref Dr. Wack thought
differently. Klose received the ball in the box, created some havoc,
then shot at goal and Pletsch panically tackled the ball into his own
net! U-20 striker Benjamin Auer, back from ACL-injury, headed over a
huge chance from Van Houdt's cross. Pettersson finished off his old
team with a good solo run over more than half the length of the pitch
capped off with a good finish (shot squeezed just inside the far post).

Assist: Klose
Attendance: 24,700


SCHALKE			5-1		BAYERN MÜNCHEN
Mpenza 34					Scholl 49
Sand 35
Böhme 54
Van Hoogdalem 75
Oude Kamphuis 90

Böhme picked out "Bad Boy" Mpenza with a superb 50m pass, the Belgian
international outpaced Kovac (no mean feat) and Linke (no big deal!)
before smashing the ball past Kahn. Sand played a simple 1-2 with
Mpenza to beat the Bayern defense for the 2nd time in 77.7 seconds --
last seasons' dream attack was back! Tarnat was sent off for a nasty
outstretched leg tackle from behind on Möller. Scholl used Reck's
inept skills on free kicks to pull one back for Bayern.

Möller won the ball off the incredibly poor Linke and fed Böhme who
chipped Kahn for the 3-1. Böhme had an outstanding game and in this
form it's a no-brainer who should patrol Germany's left lane in Japan
& Korea. Möller spread the ball wide to Mpenza on the counter attack,
his cross was met by Van Hoogdalem at the far post with a diving
header. Oude Kamphuis completed the rout after cutting inside the "D"
and drilling the ball past Kahn courtesy of another crucial mistake
by Robert Kovac.

A drumbeat which could not have been much more crass by any chance,
a result very few would have expected, a beating it's been some time
since Bayern had one of these dimensions.

Assists: Böhme, Mpenza (x2), Effenberg, Möller
Red Card: Tarnat 41 (Bayern München)
Attendance: 60,683 (sold out)


STUTTGART			3-0		HAMBURG
Ganea 26
Hertzsch 31 (og)
Bordon 77

Romeo had a regular "Wembley" goal not given. Ganea slotted in Seitz'
free kick. Hamburg helped a little on the 2nd, Pieckenhagen made a
great save from Wenzel's volley but Hertzsch tapped in the rebound.
Bordon powerfully headed in another Seitz free kick.

Hamburg's defending of set pieces is nothing short of pathetic!

Assists: Seitz (x2)
Attendance: 23,000


1860 MÜNCHEN			3-0		KÖLN
Max 56
Tyce 61
Šuker 80

Max did well to control Wiesinger's cross before ripping a half volley
past Pröll. Tyce perfectly smashed Keller's clearance into the top-left
angle from 25m out! Lottner flicked onto Häßler's corner, Šuker nodded
in his first Bundesliga goal at the far post.

Assist: Wiesinger
Attendance: 20,000


ST. PAULI			3-1		WOLFSBURG
Meggle 52					Kientz 11 (og)
Rath 75
Bajramovic 83

Kientz turned Maric's centre into his own net. Meggle headed Pauli level
from Gibbs' longball. Rath tapped in his own rebound (!) after Reitmaier
spilled Marcão's shot. Bajramovic decided the game from Marcão's through
pass. Substitute Rau went on to hit the post for WOB.

Assists: Maric, Gibbs, Marcão
Red Card: Karhan 58 (Wolfsburg)
Attendance: 19,876


FREIBURG			2-0		NÜRNBERG
Bruns 41
Iashvili 49

Bruns fired high into the net following great passing by Tskitishvili
and Zeyer. Iashvili made it 2-0 after more superb one-touch passing
by Tskitishvili and Bruns. Jarolim won a penalty, Rink shot over the
bar.

Assist: Bruns
Attendance: 24,600


Ciao,

Tim

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