Germany round-up: Dortmund strengthen title credentials
Wednesday, February 6, 2002
Article summary
BV Borussia Dortmund have opened up a four-point lead as FC Bayern München lost again.
Article body
BV Borussia Dortmund opened up a four-point advantage at the top of the 1. Bundesliga on a night that FC Bayern München's title challenge suffered a devastating blow.
Ewerthon the inspiration
Ewerthon was the inspiration behind Dortmund's 2-0 defeat of FC Hansa Rostock, the Brazilian scoring one goal and setting up the other for Marcio Amoroso. With Bayer 04 Leverkusen losing to FC Schalke 04 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern held at home by Hamburger SV, Dortmund took advantage to strengthen their title credentials.
Bayern beaten
European champions Bayern are nine points behind Dortmund after they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at FC St. Pauli, the bottom club at the start of play. St Pauli went ahead when Thomas Meggle opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, turning Robert Kovac and firing past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. Nico Patschinski doubled the home side's lead just three minutes later when he converted Christian Rahn's corner at the far post. Bayern's reply was an 87th-minute consolation from Willy Sagnol.
Hansa fortunate
Hansa, who remain on the fringes of the relegation battle, were fortunate not to suffer a heavier defeat at the Westfalenstadion. Ewerthon slotted home Jörg Heinrich's pass in the 66th minute to break the deadlock. He was involved in the goal that clinched the win nine minutes from time as his pass to Amoroso, a second-half substitute, allowed the Brazilian to slot the ball home.
Stunning winner
Jörg Böhme's stunning 20-metre free-kick gave Schalke a 1-0 victory at the BayArena and put a second dent in Leverkusen's title bid in four days after they lost to Bayern on Saturday. Schalke move up to fourth, four points behind third-placed Kaiserslautern, who were denied by Marek Heinz's late strike at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.
Trademark free-kick
The home side looked to be on their way to maximum points to keep up with the Bundesliga pacesetters when Miroslav Klose gave them a 2-1 lead 14 minutes from time. Kaiserslautern had taken the lead with a trademark free-kick from Mario Basler after just four minutes. The visitors were back on level terms within seven minutes, Bernardo Romeo heading home Bernd Hollerbach's teasing cross from close range.
