Germany round-up: Bayern edge past nine-man Dortmund

FC Bayern München restored their wounded pride, fighting back from a goal down for a 2-1 win over nine-man BV Borussia Dortmund in an ill-tempered 1. Bundesliga encounter on Saturday.

Five points clear
Bayern went five points clear of the defending champions in the standings, by inflicting a first league defeat of the season on their bitter rivals. Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, under fire since his side's elimination from European competition, badly needed a win against the club he guided to their 1997 UEFA Champions League triumph.

Kahn helpless
Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso's shot was deflected past a helpless Oliver Kahn by Jan Koller as the visitors took the lead on seven minutes. However, the Ruhr Valley side then had midfield player Torsten Frings sent off for a second booking four minutes before the break.

Pizarro winner
Bayern stepped their performance up after the interval and Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz drew them level with a superb drive from just outside the area in the 62nd minute. Claudio Pizarro hit the winner from close range three minutes later, and Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann received his marching orders for dissent after disputing the goal with the referee.

Ganea hat-trick
VfB Stuttgart moved third, just a point behind Dortmund, as Romanian international striker Ioan Ganea scored a hat-trick to seal a 3-2 home win against VfL Bochum 1848. After a goalless first half, the match exploded into action on 68 minutes. Thomas Christiansen gave the visitors the lead, before Ganea scored his first of the afternoon five minutes later. Sebastian Schindzielorz then looked to have won it for Bochum six minutes from time, but Ganea equalised from the penalty spot on 86 minutes and secured a valuable three points with his third in the final minute.

1860 lose ground
TSV 1860 München lost ground on the leaders but stay fourth despite a 1-0 away defeat at the hands of Hamburger SV. Bernardo Romeo scored the only goal of the match after 29 minutes to lift the Hamburg side into eleventh place.  VfL Wolfsburg are up into seventh position after a convincing 3-1 home victory over fifth-placed SV Werder Bremen.

Effenberg on target
Martin Petrov gave Wolfsburg the lead mid-way through the first half, and the hosts made the most of their numerical advantage following Angelos Charisteas' 45th-minute sending off, as Robson Ponte made it 2-0. Johan Micoud reduced the arrears with 20 minutes remaining, but Stefan Effenberg restored Wolfsburg's two-goal lead after 86 minutes.

Schneider drama
Bernd Schneider scored a dramatic winner as Bayer 04 Leverkusen beat FC Schalke 04 1-0 at the Parkstadion. With a goalless draw looking the most likely outcome, hosts Schalke had Frank Rost sent off in the 89th minute, before German international midfield player Schneider converted from the penalty spot to leave the home fans reeling.

Driller the hero
In Saturday's other games, Martin Driller's 56th-minute goal gave 1. FC Nürnberg victory over DSC Arminia Bielefeld, while Fredi Bobic was the hero as Hannover 96 claimed a single-goal away win at 1. FC Kaiserslautern.