LAUTERN COLLAPSES AS BAYERN GET ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE FOUR-PEAT

One step before making history by becoming the first team in Bundesliga
history to win 8 straight matches at the start of a season, K'lautern
fell to their bogey team Wolfsburg (5 away games, 5 defeats). Bayern
meanwhile hammered Stuttgart to set an exclamation point behind the
statement that the championship will only be decided over Munich's
Reds again this season. Leverkusen, almost unnoticed, has racked up
their 5th win of the season as well with a convincing victory over
Freiburg and barring a sudden total loss of form should mount the
most serious challenge of the runner-up spot.


30 SEPTEMBER 2001

BAYERN MÜNCHEN		4-0		STUTTGART
Élber 9, 13, 59
Paulo Sergio 90

Former VfB'ler Giovane Élber picked off his old club which was missing
key defenders Bordon and Soldo with an hat-trick of goals. His first
was an easy tap-in when Rui Marques, who clearly was out of his depth
without Bordon by his side in central defense, panically whacked Hasan
"Brazzo" Salihamidzic's cross into Todt's stomach from where the ball
gently rolled to the feet of Élber. Giovane's 2nd came from the worst
hospital pass I have ever seen in my whole life, again by Rui Marques
who must have had nightmares after the game!

Meißner was sent off for a foul from behind on Fink where he only made
minimal contact though so I'd say yellow would have been enough as well.
Stuttgart down 2-0 and down to 10 men after barely 20 minutes, the game
virtually decided. In the 2nd half Élber beat who else but Rui Marques
to Sforza's excellent through pass before brilliantly, magnificently
lifting the ball into the far corner for his 3rd of the evening, 100th
career Bundesliga goal which moves him up to 2nd place in the eternal
rankings for foreign goalgetters -- congratulations!

Another Brasilian rounded up the events of the game in the 90th minute,
Paulo Sergio, getting a rare start and playing a solid game overall let
off steam by dribbling young Hinkel through his legs before firing in
off the post for the 4-0 final result, his 7th goal in 10 games against
the VfB. Stuttgart was Bayern's bitch in this game, a class difference
as clear as a sky without clouds was visible but not like Bundesliga
vs. 2. Bundesliga but Bundesliga vs. Regionalliga!

Assists : Sforza (x2)
Red Card : Meißner 18 (Stuttgart)
Attendance : 61,000


LEVERKUSEN			4-1		FREIBURG
Bastürk 10					Sellimi 25
Ballack 23, 42
Neuville 60

Diminutive playmaker "Ilie" Bastürk gave the home side the lead
already after 10 minutes with a nice scoop shot from the edge of
the box. Ballack then hit his first career double pack with a
header from a corner and a tap-in, both time Zé Roberto being the
supplier.

In between Sellimi spectacularly pulled one back for Freiburg which
was sorely missing international defender Kehl due to injury with a
falling sideways kick. Neuville made it 4-1 at the hour break after
playing some ping pong with Golz, Völler needs an in-form Neuville
more than ever with Jancker, Klose and Bierhoff out of Saturday's
clash with Finland.

Leverkusen bottled another half dozen "really good chances", could
and should have won double digits (no shit!) with a little more
concentrated finishing. Freiburg, their bogey team of past seasons,
was just awfully weak in this game.

Big props to new coach Toppmöller who seems to have killed the
"loser gene" the team had under Vogts, who has successfully installed
a flat back four, a feat even Christoph Daum didn't dare to, and who
has brought Bayer back to playing inspired, spectacular and obviously
most importantly successful offensive football!

Bayer Leverkusen: Only 1 of 2 unbeaten teams in German professional
football (Hannover).

Assists : Schneider, Zé Roberto (x2), Kondé, Bastürk
Attendance : 22,500 (sold out)


29 SEPTEMBER 2001

WOLFSBURG			2-0		KAISERSLAUTERN
Juskowiak 14
Greiner 82

#1 against #18 in the table. Who will win? #18 of course! Juskowiak
showed just how important he is for the team by elevating over the
powerful Knavs to head in Munteanu's free kick after a week-long
injury lay-off. Klose had to leave after suffering a heavily bruised
ankle in the 54th minute leaving his teammates in shock (they thought
the ankle was broken so much he was in pain!).

Lokvenc shook off the state of shock first, heading Basler's cross
against the post. Old hand and ex-FCK'ler Greiner decided the game
with a good shot against Mifsud and Ratinho after a huge opening pass
cum cross by Róbson Ponté. The Brasilian, on loan from Bayer, also
hit the post with an arrogant/classy scoop shot.

Assists : Munteanu, Róbson Ponté
Attendance : 14,758


HERTHA				3-0		KÖLN
Deisler 27 (Pen)
Marcelinho 49
Preetz 85

Cullmann pulled Preetz in the box, "Der Lange" went down like a bag
of potatoes, the ref blew his whistle and Deisler made it 1-0 from
the spot. Beinlich had to leave midway through the first half with
a torn muscle, things are really not going well for him this year.
Hartmann found Marcelinho down the wing, the fake blond Brasilian
gave Cichon a tunnel, rolled into the box and under pressure from
Cullmann perfectly placed the ball past the 'keeper into the far
corner.

Marcelinho also beautifully created a goal, he exchanged passes
with Maas, used his brilliant technique to drive to the touchline
leaving the Köln defense nonplussed, then cut it back to Preetz
who continued his long tradition of scoring "garbage goals" by
only having to put his foot against the ball. Hertha have so much
potential, it is about time they show it or coach Röber may be the
next to take his hat in the winter break...

Assists : Preetz, Hartmann, Marcelinho
Attendance : 34,926


NÜRNBERG			0-0		HAMBURG

A game "Not gegen Elend" (trouble versus misery) as we say here in
Germany. And things are not going well for HSV interim coach Holger
Hieronymus: The team hasn't won in 5 games and he had his car stolen
in midweek...

Meijer had the biggest chance within the 1st 45 minutes, a header
against the pst, Barbarez the best after the break on the break but
he found his master in Kampa. Barbarez hasn't been the same since
his preseason injury.

Attendance : 31,200


BREMEN				1-0		MÖNCHENGLADBACH
Verlaat 84

Game was unwatchable until Herzog came on as a sub, swung in a free
kick, Stiel made his only mistake of the afternoon by dropping the
ball and Verlaat capitalized with a diving header. Gladbach were
without Werder reject Van Lent and it showed as their otherwise
fluent offense game was wrecked.

Attendance : 33,231


ST. PAULI			1-2		DORTMUND
Meggle 77					Ewerthon 12
						Koller 33

Dortmund beat Juventus to new £2.5 million signing Ewerthon who debuted
in this game. And he *did* make a debut! 12 minutes into the game Koller
knocked a cross down for him and the skinny Brasilian (only 1,72m, 63kg)
made it 0-1 with a beauty of a turnaround volley! Amoroso missed an open
goal when he only hit the post after what looked like a routine put-away
of Rosický's centre.

Ewerthon then returned the favour to Koller who powerfully headed in his
cross. Sammer was sent into the stands for running onto the pitch after
a scuffle. Dedê won a penalty, Koller shot it wide. Meggle combined with
Kientz for Pauli's first home goal of the season. Bajramovic cracked an
83rd minute shot against the post, if he played for 'Lautern, it would
have gone in. ;)


Assists : Koller, Ewerthon, Kientz
Attendance : 20,735 (sold out)


SCHALKE			2-0		COTTBUS
Mpenza 19
Asamoah 33

Mpenza fired himself out of his scoring slump and Schalke into the lead
with a beautiful stroke into the left-bottom corner after exchanging
passes with Kmetsch. Asamoah made it 2-0 with an absolutely brilliant
scoop shot against 3 sleeping Energie defenders, albeit from an offside
position. Miriuta and Mpenza came close to scoring when they hit wood.

Assists : Kmetsch (x2)
Attendance : 60,204 (sold out)


ROSTOCK			2-2		1860 MÜNCHEN
Wibrån 23, 61					Max 3
						Baumgart 85 (og)

Max ran away from his marker to put away Weissenberger's deflected cross
in mid-air. After some passing in the box Di Salvo had a shot blocked
but Wibrån was there to hammer home the equalizer. Daniel Borimirov, who
is truly enjoying a career season, almost snapped the post after a huge
Häßler pass through an already formatted defense! Wibrån gave Hansa the
lead as trailer on the 2nd wave of a counter attack. Häßler struck the
post with a distance shot and then substitute Baumgart cruelly costed
Hansa the points by heading Icke's free kick into his own goal.


Assists : Weissenberger, Maul, Häßler
Attendance : 14,000


Ciao,

Tim

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