Mark
Oct 26 2002, 10:20 PM
BERLIN (Reuters) - Champions Borussia Dortmund have closed the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to three points with a convincing 4-1 victory at Werder Bremen.
Two goals from Brazilian striker Ewerthon helped second-placed Dortmund, the only undefeated side in the league after 10 games, put pressure on a nervous Bayern side.
The Bavarians, who undermined their chances of surviving the opening stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat at AC Milan on Wednesday, offered an embarrassing defensive display for a 3-3 home draw with lowly Hanover 96.
Former Werder midfielder Torsten Frings put Dortmund in the lead in Bremen with a superb volley on two minutes but the visitors responded with a deflected effort from midfielder Fabian Ernst 10 minutes from the break.
Dortmund stepped up a gear in the second half with a thunderous effort from Brazilian midfielder Dede in the 71st minute which were followed by two Ewerthon goals.
'We stayed clam after they equalised and that was the key,' said Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer. 'It was a really good game in the first half. After the break it was a bit more one-sided.'
Werder dropped one spot to fourth while TSV 1860 Munich moved up to third, six points off the pace, thanks to an early second-half goal from striker Markus Schroth for a 1-0 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
BLUNDERS
Bayern moved ahead of Hanover after four minutes courtesy of Brazilian striker Elber but the northerners fought back with goals from Polish defender Dariusz Zuraw and striker Daniel Stendel for a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Two defensive blunders helped Hanover score as Bayern suffered from the absence of injured first-choice goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
Bayern hoped for a hard-fought win after a splendid free kick from midfielder Mehmet Scholl and a second Elber strike gave them a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes left.
But second division champions Hanover, who remain third from bottom, salvaged a draw with another goal from Stendel after more poor defending from Bayern eight minutes from time.
'We gave away those goals,' said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. 'We were too naive and not focused enough. We had to work very hard for a draw because of individual errors at the back but we played well up front.'
Bayern, who had started the season as ambitious as ever, will now visit Deportivo Coruna on Tuesday with victory the only option if the four-times European champions are to keep alive their slim hopes of surviving their Champions League group.
'There is no such thing as a crisis at Bayern,' Hitzfeld said. 'There's a good atmosphere in the team.'
Two goals from Brazilian striker Ewerthon helped second-placed Dortmund, the only undefeated side in the league after 10 games, put pressure on a nervous Bayern side.
The Bavarians, who undermined their chances of surviving the opening stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat at AC Milan on Wednesday, offered an embarrassing defensive display for a 3-3 home draw with lowly Hanover 96.
Former Werder midfielder Torsten Frings put Dortmund in the lead in Bremen with a superb volley on two minutes but the visitors responded with a deflected effort from midfielder Fabian Ernst 10 minutes from the break.
Dortmund stepped up a gear in the second half with a thunderous effort from Brazilian midfielder Dede in the 71st minute which were followed by two Ewerthon goals.
'We stayed clam after they equalised and that was the key,' said Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer. 'It was a really good game in the first half. After the break it was a bit more one-sided.'
Werder dropped one spot to fourth while TSV 1860 Munich moved up to third, six points off the pace, thanks to an early second-half goal from striker Markus Schroth for a 1-0 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
BLUNDERS
Bayern moved ahead of Hanover after four minutes courtesy of Brazilian striker Elber but the northerners fought back with goals from Polish defender Dariusz Zuraw and striker Daniel Stendel for a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Two defensive blunders helped Hanover score as Bayern suffered from the absence of injured first-choice goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
Bayern hoped for a hard-fought win after a splendid free kick from midfielder Mehmet Scholl and a second Elber strike gave them a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes left.
But second division champions Hanover, who remain third from bottom, salvaged a draw with another goal from Stendel after more poor defending from Bayern eight minutes from time.
'We gave away those goals,' said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. 'We were too naive and not focused enough. We had to work very hard for a draw because of individual errors at the back but we played well up front.'
Bayern, who had started the season as ambitious as ever, will now visit Deportivo Coruna on Tuesday with victory the only option if the four-times European champions are to keep alive their slim hopes of surviving their Champions League group.
'There is no such thing as a crisis at Bayern,' Hitzfeld said. 'There's a good atmosphere in the team.'