LEVERKUSEN WINS IN VAIN AS DORTMUND CLINCHES TITLE!!
All match reviews by Tim Leidecker tim@milanmania.com unless otherwise
stated.
4 MAY 2002
BAYERN MÜNCHEN 3-2 ROSTOCK
Baumgart 39 (og) Hansen 82
Scholl 55 Lantz 89
Élber 83
The defending champs still had the chance to "steal" another title
provided Dortmund and Leverkusen would both choke. At the end of the
first half they predictedly took the lead through Hansa's Baumgart who
blindly headed Scholl's corner into his own net. 10 minutes into the
2nd half Scholl himself added a second firing in from a close angle
after Santa Cruz' attempt hit the post. Young amateur Kevin Hansen got
Hansa briefly back into the game tapping in Rydlewicz' centre before
Élber put things out of reach with a header from Paulo Sérgio's cross.
Lantz did some result cosmetics with a stunning half volley into the
roof from just outside the area.
Assists: Scholl, Rydlewicz (x2), Paulo Sérgio
Attendance: 63,000 (sold out)
LEVERKUSEN 2-1 HERHTA
Ballack 10, 51 Beinlich 83
Even though they did not have their destiny in their own hands anymore,
Bayer still needed to win to capitalize on a possible Dortmund slip or
at least ensure direct qualification to the Champions League by placing
2nd. League MVP Michael Ballack fired in a huge 25 meter free kick 10
minutes into the game. 6 minutes after the break Neuville swung in a
corner, Sebescen flicked onto it, Preetz ran into Simunic from whose
back of head the ball went to Ballack who volleyed home his 17th goal
of the season (remember he's a midfielder!) from close range. Ex-Bayer
men Neuendorf and Beinlich linked up to give Hertha the consolation.
Assists: Kirsten, Neuendorf
Attendance: 22,500 (sold out)
DORTMUND 2-1 BREMEN
Koller 41 Stalteri 17
Ewerthon 74
The situation before the game was clear: 3 points for Dortmund and they
won't have to worry what the opposition does. Topscorer Amoroso went
close with a 9th minute free kick which cannoned back off the crossbar
before Aílton tied 3 defenders to leave Stalteri wide open to tap in his
centre. The 60,000+ BVB fans at the Westfalenstadion were completely
silent while the rest, among them yours truly, totally went bonkers!
Rost made a stunning save from a superb Amoroso shot after great work
from Kehl and the otherwise anonymous Ricken. Amoroso shot over the bar
from an acute angle just minutes later as Dortmund began to pile up the
pressure! Verlaat and Stalteri did some ball watching as Koller hit a
slow rolling shot across goal and into the left bottom corner for the
equalizer just before half time.
Addo hit a deflected shot against the post at 59'. Tjikuzu almost took
the "world's ugliest salad bowl" out of Dortmund'd hands when he rocked
the crossbar on a one-man counter attack! Ewerthon came on at 73' for
total failure Heinrich and with only his 2nd touch he bundled in Dedê's
cross at the back post to give Borussia Dortmund their first Bundesliga
Championship in 6 years!
Krstajic was harshly expelled for his 2nd bookable offence but that did
not matter anymore as Werder rarely threatened thereafter having only
fielded one attacker in Aílton who was by then run ragged by the mostly
excellent Metzelder.
It is not sour grapes but in my opinion Borussia Dortmund did not
deserve the title for three reasons:
1. Leverkusen clearly played better, more spectacular & more consistant
football throughout the season.
2. Dortmund were gifted extremely soft penalties in their games against
St. Pauli, Gladbach and Köln after Sammer complained about being
unfairly treated by the refs following Dortmund's 4-0 thrashing at
the hands of Leverkusen, which led to 6 points they'd normally not
have.
3. Their record against the Top 6 is a very mediocre 4 wins 4 draws and
4 losses with 14 goals scored and 14 conceded. They got smashed in
Leverkusen and only took 3 points from the matches against Bayern,
Schalke and Leverkusen overall.
Assists: Aílton, Amoroso, Dedê
Red Card: Krstajic 77 (Bremen)
Attendance: 68,600 (sold out)
STUTTGART 4-3 KAISERSLAUTERN
Meißner 42, 65 Lincoln 44 (Pen)
Dundee 46 Hristov 60
Ganea 73 Klose 71
Kaiserslautern needed to get a better result than Bremen to ensure
qualification for next season's UEFA Cup in this one. Silvio Meißner
dented these hopes as he headed in Adhemar's 42nd minute free kick
only to see countryman Lincoln equalize from the spot after Klose won
a soft penalty only two minutes later. Dundee slotted home Hleb's
through pass for his 5th goal from the last 6 games to put the home
side back into the lead. If Dundee had come to life a bit earlier,
he'd have a job in June...
Lokvenc headed Basler's free kick back across goal and Hristov rose
higher than Todt to again head in the equalizer. Meißner poked in
Hleb's cross for his 2nd double pack in a row, 8th goal of the season,
not bad at all for an utility player! VfB 'keeper Hildebrand gifted
'Lautern their *third* equalizer of the afternoon when he spilled
Basler's cross (to his defense it can be said that the ball was very
wet) and Klose headed in but then FCK goalie Koch blundered as well
punching Gerber's drive high into the air, Dundee knocked it down and
into Ganea who only had to tap in the game winner.
Therefore Kaiserslautern will join Stuttgart in next season's UEFA
Intertoto Cup while Werder Bremen takes the 6th spot which guarantees
direct qualification.
Assists: Adhemar, Klose, Hleb (x2), Lokvenc, Dundee
Attendance: 34,000
SCHALKE 1-2 WOLFSBURG
Asamoah 90 Maric 30, 81
60,000 at the sold out Arena said goodbye to 5 of 1997's "Eurofighters"
(Eigenrauch, Thon, Mulder, Nemec and Büskens) who won the UEFA Cup and
who are now going to leave the club/retire. They also bid farewell coach
Stevens who has coached them to two 5th and one 2nd place finish in the
league as well as the 1997 UEFA Cup and the 2001 German Cup.
Tomislav Maric spoiled the party when he tapped in Munteanu's centre in
the first half and clobbered donkey Van Hoogdalem before shooting past
Reck for his 2nd of the afternoon, 5th double pack of the season (!),
12th goal from only 17 matches! Asamoah lobbed in the consolation after
Reitmaier spilled Mulder's shot.
Assists: Munteanu (x2)
Attendance: 60,683 (sold out)
FREIBURG 4-3 HAMBURG
Fukal 28 (og) Cardoso 26
Coulibaly 36, 75, 83 Romeo 43, 69
Chronically injured ex-Freiburg playmaker Cardoso came running up from
behind to slide in Antar's centre. Bruns headed Männer's cross at goal
and Fukal beautifully beat his own 'keeper at the near post. Romeo and
Coulibaly now exchanged blows: Coulibaly struck first heading in old
man Zeyer's cross.
Romeo answered with two goals within 25 minutes, his first came from
Groth's centre, his second a thumping header from Benjamin's cross.
But Coulibaly had his shooting boots on as well, capitalizing when
Pieckenhagen spilled Kobiashvili's cross and running onto a Kobiashvili
through pass to slot in the game-winner.
Although all of their players have valid contracts for Liga 2 as well,
I'd be absolutely amazed to see captain Kobiashvili, who has been one
of the league's premier left-sided midfielders for the past 4 years,
or 21-year-old defender Diarra, who made soccer-europe's All-Bundesliga
Team last season, play in the 2. Liga. An offer of EUR 4 million should
see Freiburg weaken.
Assists: Antar, Bruns, Zeyer, Groth, Benjamin, Kobiashvili
Attendance: 25,000 (sold out)
ST. PAULI 2-3 NÜRNBERG
Patschinski 19, 90 Junior 15
Michalke 22, 67
Junior tapped in Krzynówek's centre. Trulsen kicked Rahn's centre
against a defender's shin, the rest of the defense went ball-watching
as Patschinski drilled the round leather high into the net. Michalke
dribbled 3 defenders and caught Henzler out of position with a low
shot into the far corner. He repeated the trick in the 2nd half from
Larsen's through pass. Patschinski volleyed in Rahn's long cross for
Pauli's 37th and for now last Bundesliga goal.
Nürnberg need some serious strengthening in all areas, otherwise they
will be in deep trouble next season!
Assists: Krzynówek, Villa, Larsen, Rahn
Attendance: 20,499 (sold out)
COTTBUS 2-3 KÖLN
Topic 81 Kurth 35
Reichenberger 87 Lottner 57, 63
Kurth poked in Baranek's centre for Köln's first road goal scored by
a striker on the final day of the season! Captain Lottner scored two
quick goals midway through the second half, then Köln let the home
side do some scoring as well, Topic thankfully accepted pulling down
Reghecampf's cross before volleying past Pröll and Reichenberger had
the last say with a near post header from Miriuta's cross.
Reserve 'keeper Bade, the over-expensive Song, talented youngster
Balitsch, flop Laslandes and perhaps wing-forward Timm aside, Köln
will keep their squad together making them early favourites for
direct re-promotion from the 2. Bundesliga. Cottbus, surprisingly
and impressively won't have to go to Ahlen, Reutlingen & Oberhausen,
they stay in the top flight for another season!
Assists: Baranek (x2), Voigt, Reghecampf
Attendance: 19,435
MÖNCHENGLADBACH 2-4 1860 MÜNCHEN
Demo 6 Bierofka 25, 46
Van Lent 66 Šuker 64, 69
Demo volleyed Gladbach into the lead from Münch's corner. Bierofka,
who will join Leverkusen next season IF Zé Roberto decides for Bayern,
turned the game around with two great run&shoot solos in the 25th and
46th minute respectively. Davor Šuker got himself into early World Cup
scoring mood with two goals as well, his first a classy finish from
Weissenberger's through pass, his 2nd a tap-in from Max' missed spot
kick. In between Van Lent snatched his career high 12th goal of the
season with a diving header after great work from Aidoo's.
Assists: Münch, Max, Kurz, Weissenberger, Aidoo
Attendance: 34,500 (sold out)
Ciao,
Tim
tim@milanmania.com
http://milanmania.com
http://soccer-europe.com
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