DORTMUND CLIMBS THE TOP AS LEVERKUSEN CHOKE AGAIN!

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

27 APRIL 2002

HAMBURG			3-4		DORTMUND
Amoroso 36 (Pen), 63				Wicky 42 (Pen)
Rosický 38					Hoogma 80
Koller 87						Meijer 90

Romeo had the first chance of the game when he headed just wide after
being left totally open following a corner. Sammer was ejected for
kicking the ball against Barbarez' arse after the former Dortmund
midfielder brought down Borussia playmaker Rosický with a hard foul.
Then things fell head over heels: Amoroso pounced onto a Kehl through
pass, Hertzsch clipped him in the box, penalty *and* a straight red
card for the HSV defender, very harsh decision! Amoroso sent Martin
Pieckenhagen the wrong way from the spot for his 17th goal of the
season.

Just two minutes later when the HSV defense was still disorganized
and chaotic, Amoroso skipped a tackle and whipped a cross to the far
post, Rosický killed the ball and drilled it past Piecke for the 0-2.
On their next trip down the pitch Hamburg won a corner which Lehmann
punched out, it was headed back in to Barbarez who had his cheekbone
smashed by Wörns in mid-air. Borussia's German international defender
not only hurt himself as well, but was also sent off for his second
bookable offence. Traitorous Birthday Boy Wicky, who turned 25 today,
gave himself a present pulling one back from the spot.

3 minutes after the hour mark Dortmund were awarded a free kick in
promising position, Amoroso blasted his first attempt into the wall
but beat the 'keeper with his left-footed follow-up. Is Amoroso the
player who fires Dortmund to the Championship? Kehl shot inches wide
after beautifully swapping passes with Koller. Pieckenhagen scratched
a sassy Rosický outside-instep free kick (!) just out of the top-left
corner. Lehmann then completely missed Groth's corner, Antar reacted
quickly and headed it to the unmarked Hoogma who banged in the 2-3.

Now the game was on the edge of the blade: Rosický split the Hamburg
defense with another one of his amazing through passes, Otto Addo who
was out with an ACL injury for most of the season ran onto the ball,
drew out the 'keeper and while falling down centred the ball to Koller
who only had to tap it in. 2-4, game over. Still Hamburg didn't give
up and were rewarded when Meijer uncharacteristically had the last say
with a curling shot from the edge of the box.

Dortmund took a huge step towards their 6th Bundesliga Championship by
winning this game. Together with Leverkusen's collapse at Nürnberg they
are now in the driving seat and with a victory over Werder Bremen they
can clinch the title at home next week.

Assists: Amoroso (x2), Barbarez, Antar, Addo, Hollerbach
Red Cards: Hertzsch 33 (Hamburg), Wörns 41 (Dortmund)
Attendance: 55,340 (sold out)


NÜRNBERG			1-0		LEVERKUSEN
Nikl 23

Hard as iron man Nikl beat Placente to Krzynówek's free kick to score
a goal which eventually relegated 3 clubs and seriously dented Bayer's
title hopes. Nürnberg dominated the match in the first half, Leverkusen
only had one single chance when lone striker Berbatov (Neuville was on
the bench with a broken toe) got free but blazed just over the bar.

Kampa, after the pathetic displays a couple of weeks ago back to his
great form, had an excellent game with tremendous saves against Bastürk
and Ballack. Their strikers, Rink and Cacãu, on the other hand had huge
chances to score the 2-0 but always found a way around it. Berbatov hit
a nice turnaround-shot against the post at 78'.

Lúcio had the last chance of the game but Kampa saved his cracking
volley at 86'. After playing Tuesday/Wednesday and Saturday for the
whole month of April now Bayer, whose regular rotation only includes
16 players, simply could not shift it up one gear against a Club which
did everything to win and thus stay in the Bundesliga another year.

Leverkusen now has to win their final game at home against Hertha BSC
and cross their fingers for Werder Bremen to steal point(s) at the
Westfalenstadion.

Assist: Krzynówek
Attendance: 44,416 (sold out)


WOLFSBURG			0-1		BAYERN MÜNCHEN
						Biliskov 33 (og)

Bayern once again without Effenberg who did not even make the trip to
Wolfsburg after his controversial statements two weeks ago. Hargreaves
and Fink occupied the centre of midfield in his place. Pizarro had the
first chance of the game when he twisted his shot just inches wide at
5'. White-Hot Wolves striker Klimowicz had to be substituted with a
suspected concussion after banging heads with Kuffour at 19'.

Out of nowhere Biliskov deflected Sagnol's cross into his own net to
give Bayern the lead just after half an hour. Kahn made two good saves
from Maric and Schnoor. Róbson Ponté and Giovane Élber exchanged shots
over the bar early in the second half. Reitmaier, in his 300th BuLi
game, made an unbelievable save from Pizarro's close range drive. Kahn
was forced into two even better saves from Petrov and Wolfsburg's best
player this afternoon, Karhan.

In the end Bayern hung on to a lucky but not undeserved victory. It was
their 19th shutout of the season, thus equalling the all-time Bundesliga
record! If Dortmund does not beat Werder Bremen next week and Leverkusen
does not take more than 1 point from their match against Hertha, Bayern
can steal another Championship with a home victory against Hansa
Rostock.

Assist: Sagnol
Attendance: 21,600 (sold out)


HERTHA				2-0		SCHALKE
Preetz 50
Alex Alves 53

Paule Beinlich, who wants Scholl's spot on Germany's World Cup roster
after the Bayern ace had retired from international football earlier
this week, volleyed against the outside of the post at around 20'.
Sand nicely gained control of Vermant's cross with his right foot but
ripped his shot just over with his left.

5 minutes into the 2nd half "Mr. Garbage Goal", "Mr. Tap-In", call him
how you like, anyway Preetz totally against his tradition took Goor's
pass and slotted the ball past Reck for the 1-0. Alex Alves added a 2nd
just 3 minutes later with a mis-hit shot from Hartmann's centre. The
rest of the game was exhibition skating.

With the victory, Hertha has clinched an UEFA Cup berth for next season.
That's as good as it gets for the capitals though as with Bayern's win,
they cannot reach the Champions League anymore. The same applies to
Schalke. Let's hope at least Hertha will still give 100% next week as
their performance will have an impact on who wins the league.

Assists: Goor, Hartmann
Attendance: 55,000 (sold out)


KAISERSLAUTERN			4-0		COTTBUS
Lokvenc 25, 47
Klose 37, 46

Miriuta took a nap on the edge of the box, the lively Basler stole the
ball off him and fed Lokvenc who rode a tackle before firing into the
right-bottom corner. Ball was unstoppably deflected by Akrapovic though.
Lokvenc then headed a long kick-off to Basler, pressed by 3 defenders
he closed in on goal, 'keeper Lenz was able to save his shot but not the
follow-up by Klose.

Klose lifted the ball onto the crossbar after a wonderful Lincoln solo
just one minute later. One minute into the 2nd half Klose should get
his 2nd of the afternoon, 15th of the season when he headed in Lincoln's
cross with an "Aufsetzer" (i.e. he headed into the ground from where it
bounced into the net). Scoring goals was now as easy as getting in a
bubble bath thought Lokvenc and also helped himself to a 2nd with a
header of his own, this time Klose was on the providing end.

'Lautern, on level with points with Werder Bremen, will have a "Small
Finale" for the 6th and final UEFA Cup spot next week. While Werder
travels to Dortmund, the FCK plays their final road match of the season
at Stuttgart.

Assists: Basler, Lincoln, Klose
Attendance: 40,600


BREMEN				3-2		ST. PAULI
Frings 50, 77					Rahn 5
Aílton 54 					Meggle 16

Rahn gave the sold out home crowd a huge horror when he gave the
virtually relegated taillight the lead with a deflected shot from the
edge of the box. Meggle, who will join Pauli's arch-rival Hansa Rostock
next season, turned the horror into terror with an unbelievable looping
shot from 25 meters which perfectly descended into the right corner of
the net. Lisztes fired across goal and against the post at 27' for
Werder's biggest chance of the first half.

The home side played completely exchanged after the break. 5 minutes
into the 2nd half Ernst poked the ball into the path of Frings who
lifted it over Henzler. Just 4 minutes later Bode sent a looping header
over the 'keeper and Aílton came running up from behind to push it over
the line. With 13 minutes to play Torsten Frings, one of the Top 10
players in the league this season, headed in Krstajic's cross for the
game-winner.

Banovic most unnecessarily got himself sent off for diving (2nd bookable
offence) in the 90th minute.

With a draw in Dortmund next week Werder cannot only spoil the Yellow-
Blacks' Championship but also qualify for the UEFA Cup as I cannot see
Kaiserslautern getting more than one point at Stuttgart.

Assists: Patschinski (x2), Ernst, Bode, Krstajic
Red Card: Banovic 90 (Bremen)
Attendance: 35,600 (sold out)


KÖLN				2-0		FREIBURG
Cullmann 27
Scherz 86

Müller woke up his side with a thumping header which rocked the crossbar
at 18'. Cullmann did slightly better when he headed in Lottner's corner
9 minutes later. Bruns and Ramdane had two semi-chances and Kobiashvili
should have been awarded a penalty after being hacked by Song. Scherz
tapped in Springer's centre 4 minutes before the end, still both teams
have to line up for the long and troublesome road through the 2. Liga
next season. Sad.

Assists: Lottner, Springer
Attendance: 30,000 (sold out)


ROSTOCK			1-1		MÖNCHENGLADBACH
Hill 9						Demo 18

Hill headed in Rydlewicz' corner. Demo equalized with an excellent free
kick from 25 meters.

Assist: Rydlewicz
Attendance: 25,800


1860 MÜNCHEN			3-3		STUTTGART
Max 52 (Pen), 60					Dundee 20
Borimirov 79					Meißner 45, 63

Former promising striker Sean Dundee, who has really come to life with
3 crucial goals from the past 5 games, netted once again with a mighty
running volley from Hleb's through pass. Meißner made it 0-2 from a
free kick trick at the brink of half time. Max briefly brought 60 back
into the game by first winning and converting a penalty and 8 minutes
later capitalizing on a HUGE mistake from Bordon who headed the ball
straight to the feet of the "Löwen" goalgetter before Meißner restored
the lead for the visitors with his 2nd of the afternoon, a nice diving
header from Hinkel's cross. Borimirov, who has enjoyed a pretty solid
season considering his age had the last say when he volleyed Šuker's
cross into the ground and looping over the 'keeper.

Thus both club are qualified for next season's UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Assists: Hleb, Balakov, Max, Hinkel, Šuker
Red Card: Riseth 84 (1860 München)
Attendance: 30,000


Ciao,

Tim

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