Wolfsburg wounded
September 12, 2010
Former champions Wolfsburg stumbled to their third defeat in as many games so far this season, losing 2-0 away against Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund's goals, including a wonder strike from Nuri Sahin, leave Wolfsburg without a point under former England manager Steve McClaren.
Turkish international midfielder Sahin picked up the ball 30 meters (roughly 33 yards) from goal, and fired an unstoppable shot into the top right corner on 50 minutes. Japanese attacker Shinji Kagawa doubled the tally in the 65th minute, sliding the ball past keeper Diego Benaglio.
"The victory was more than deserved. We were constantly a threat in the box but we needed the goal by Sahin," said Dortmund trainer Juergen Klopp.
McClaren said his players appeared not to have recovered from a 4-3 defeat to Mainz in their previous game. "The pressure is growing on us, we know that," he said.
Visitors Werder Bremen offered no gifts as they visited Bayern Munich ahead of club legend Franz Beckenbauer's 65th birthday celebrations.
Bayern's Joerg Butt and Bremen's Tim Wiese were key figures, both keepers making several vital saves in the goalless draw.
There were clear second-half chances for Bremen's Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic and German midfielder Tim Borowski, but both were just off target. Bayern's Toni Kroos came closest to scoring for his team, twice putting Wiese to the test. The result leaves both sides in mid-table on four points.
Brought down to earth
Borussia Moenchengladbach came down to earth with a bump after their 6-3 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen last week.
Moenchengladbach collapsed to a 4-0 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, who were helped by two goals from Greece's Theofanis Gekas, with Benjamin Koehler and Patrick Ochs making the score sheet.
There was bad news for Germany's currently absent captain Michael Ballack, who was forced to limp off the pitch after a challenge during Bayer Leverkusen's 2-2 draw in Hanover.
Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan put Hanover ahead before the side was reduced to 10 men after just 36 minutes when Austrian defender Emanuel Pogatetz received a second yellow card.
The sending-off did not stop Hanover scoring a second goal through Norway striker Mohammed Abdellaoue on 50 minutes. Leverkusen came back through Swiss substitute Eren Derdiyok on 62 minutes and Patrick Helmes, with a free-kick in the 89th. Hanover coach Mirko Slomka was sent to the stands for arguing with the linesman as the match drew to a tense close.
End of winning streak
Hamburg's 100 percent record came to an end, the side now in second place after conceding an 81st minute penalty to visitors Nuremberg to make the score 1-1.
Freiburg came from a goal behind to clinch a 2-1 win over struggling Stuttgart, who have yet to score a point this season.
Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim won 2-0 on Friday, consigning Schalke 04 to their third successive league defeat. Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer conceded a late own goal, which followed Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah's first-half header.
On Sunday, Mainz play Kaiserslautern, with both teams on maximum points after two games, while Cologne entertain St Pauli.
Author: Richard Connor (AFP/dpa/Reuters)
Editor: Mark Hallam