Van Bommel fires Bayern top
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Article summary
FC Bayern München are the new leaders of the Bundesliga from fellow winners FC Schalke 04, although Hamburger SV-Werder Bremen finished level.
Article body
Mark van Bommel's second goal in as many Bundesliga games helped FC Bayern München defeat TSV Alemannia Aachen and wrest top spot from VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Dum opener
Brazilian striker Kahê scored the only goal in the 39th minute last night as Mönchengladbach won 1-0 at home against BV Borussia Dortmund to move on to nine points, although they always knew they were likely to be knocked off that lofty perch as a number of the chasing pack were in action today - chief among them Bayern. The champions did not have it all their own way against Aachen, though, as 20-year-old defender Sascha Dum fired the visitors in front at the Fußball Arena München.
Pizarro leveller
That lead was to last less than a minute as Claudio Pizarro drew Bayern level in the 39th minute, paving the way for Dutchman Van Bommel to secure three points by scoring the winner in the 55th minute. The win lifted Bayern on to ten points, one more than Hertha BSC Berlin after the capital club could only draw at 1. FSV Mainz 05. Bakary Diakité put the home side ahead in the 49th minute at the Bruchwegstadion before Kevin Prince Boateng equalised eleven minutes after half-time.
Derby draw
Honours were also even in the northern derby as Bayern's fellow UEFA Champions League challengers Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen drew 1-1. German international Tim Borowski struck first in the 58th minute for the visitors, who were pegged back by Bastian Reinhardt eleven minutes later. Hamburg's hopes of a morale-boosting win were hampered by the 74th-minute dismissal of Iranian forward Mehdi Mahdavikia, and they were left to hang on for only their fourth point of the season.
Schalke climb
The match between Hannover 96 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen also finished 1-1, as did VfB Stuttgart versus Eintracht Frankfurt after Alexander Meier struck an 88th-minute equaliser for the visitors. FC Schalke 04 are level with Bayern on ten points as goals from Kevin Kuranyi (57) and Lincoln (89) helped them overcome VfL Wolfsburg in front of 61,000 supporters at the Arena AufSchalke
