Weekend round-up: Title joy for Djurgården and Flora
Monday, November 4, 2002
Article summary
Djurgårdens IF claimed their first Swedish title since 1966 as two championships were settled at the weekend.
Article body
Djurgårdens IF claimed the Swedish title for the first time since 1966 to become one of two sides to clinch a domestic championship at the weekend.
'The best team'
Goals from Johan Elmander and Andreas Johansson in Djurgården's 2-0 Saturday win against IF Elfsborg in front of 16,663 fans saw the Stockholm side triumph. "We have been the best team during the whole season and have won the championship deservedly," said Djurgården midfield player Stefan Rehn.
Flora flourish
The following day FC Flora claimed their second consecutive Estonian first division championship with a 0-0 draw against second-placed FC Levadia Maardu in a tense decider watched by a league record 3,200 crowd.
Bayern defeat
FC Bayern München's miserable eight days had an unhappy ending, as the German 1. Bundesliga leaders, who were held 3-3 by Hannover 96 last week and went out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday at the hands of RC Deportivo La Coruña, completed their disappointment with a 2-0 Sunday loss at SV Werder Bremen, Markus Daun and Mladen Krstajic both scoring. However, Bayern still lead by two points after unbeaten champions BV Borussia Dortmund were unable to significantly narrow the gap, being held 1-1 at home by lowly Hamburger SV.
Milanese dominance continues
Internazionale FC are still three points ahead of rivals AC Milan in Italy as both sides secured 2-0 wins on Sunday. Christian Vieri and Alvaro Recoba scored for Inter at Como Calcio, while Filippo Inzaghi pounced on a rebound from a saved Rivaldo penalty to score his 100th Serie A goal for Milan against Reggina Calcio, the Brazilian making amends by claiming the second.
Owen double
Liverpool FC remain top of the English Premiership after two Michael Owen strikes gave them a 2-0 win against West Ham United FC on Saturday, but Arsenal FC ensured their lead was cut to four points the following day as a Steve Marlet own goal ensured a 1-0 victory at Fulham FC, ending the reigning champions' run of four defeats in all competitions. Much-touted 17-year-old Wayne Rooney scored his second Premiership goal as Everton FC gained their first league win at Leeds United AFC in 51 years.
Nihat goal decisive
Real Sociedad retained their three-point cushion in Spain's Primera División on Sunday as they overcame Villarreal CF 1-0, Nihat Kahveci scoring on 37 minutes. Valencia CF stay second after winning by a similar margin against improving RCD Espanyol, while RCD Mallorca's 3-1 victory against Real Valladolid - courtesy of Walter Pandiani's hat-trick - puts them third. Real Madrid CF drew 0-0 at RC Deportivo La Coruña.
PSG miss chance
AJ Auxerre took the lead in their Saturday match against RC Lens only to lose 3-1, but are still ahead in France's Ligue 1. Paris Saint-Germain FC could have overtaken them the following day, but went down 3-1 at CS Sedan-Ardennes. Only two points separate the top six.
Last-day deciders
FC Skonto's bid for a European record 12th league title in a row in Latvia's Virsliga will go to the final day as both they and rivals FK Ventspils won, while FC Neman and FC BATE Borisov will contest the Belarussian first division title in a play-off on 7 November.
Vålerenga take cup
