ACTUALITE |
12.08.2002
Bochum top Bundesliga as big guns falter on saturday
BERLIN
Bundesliga new boys VfL Bochum were popping the champagne corks as their 3-1 away win over Nuremberg on the first full league day of the new German season put them on top of table.
Bochum were one of only two teams to take full points, the other being Schalke 04, on a day when some of the supposed giants of German football faltered.
The man of the match for the new league leaders was Thomas Christiansen, a Dane who now holds a Spanish passport.
Christiansen opened his account after only six minutes after pouncing on a fumble by Nuremberg `keeper Darius Kampa.
He then doubled the score in the 20th minute for the visitors who went on to miss a spate of chances to increase their lead.
Nuremberg came back into the match through Macedonian Sasa Ciric whose header from a freekick flew home six minutes after the interval.
However, Iranian international Vahid Hashemian then put the result beyond doubt when he fired home with seven minutes left to play.
Bayer Leverkusen, the runners-up last season, had a rude return to the league as little eastern outfit Energie Cottbus held Klaus Toppmoller`s side to a 1-1 draw.
Czech international Jan Simak opened the scoring for Leverkusen on his debut in the 64th minute but his effort was cancelled out by Hungarian international Vilmos Sebok who scored in the 79th minute.
Bayern Munich`s domestic ambitions were dealt a similar blow as they were held to a scoreless draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Schalke 04, another title contender - although their last league title was in 1958 - were the only other team from the day`s six matches to claim three points.
Sven Vermant gave new coach Frank Neubarth a dream start when he came up with a goal a minute from time to snatch a 1-0 win over visitors VfL Wolfsburg. Schalke now sit second behind Bochum who are top on goals difference.
After Friday`s 2-2 draw between league champions Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin in front of 67,000 fans, Bochum could realistically still be league leaders come Sunday night after two of the week`s remaining three fixtures are played.
On Friday Dortmund went down to a goal after just 52 seconds as Belgian international Bart Goor jumped on a defensive blunder to fire past Dortmund `keeper Jens Lehmann.
But the hosts got back on track just three minutes later when Torsten Frings beat Hungary `keeper Gabor Kiraly to equalise.
Dortmund then pulled ahead through Brazilian Ewerthon, who picked up a loose ball after it had pinballed off Kiraly`s posts to fire home in the 36th minute.
However just five minutes from the end Dortmund were dealt a blow when Hertha Berlin - the recent winners of the German League Cup - equalised when Brazilian Marcelinho crossed to Andreas Neuendorf who fired home.
It was the first time, after nine consecutive defeats at the Westfalenstadion, that Berlin had managed to take a point away from Dortmund.
On Sunday Hamburg play host to league newcomers Hanover, and fellow newcomers Bielefeld play host to Werder Bremen.
The week`s only remaining fixture - 1860 Munich v Hansa Rostock - will be played on Wednesday as Munich`s stadium is currently hosting the European athletics Championships.
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