Germany round-up: Wolfsburg win
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Article summary
Tomislav Maric made 1. Bundesliga history on Wednesday as VfB Wolfsburg beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Article body
Leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen went down at VfB Wolfsburg in the 1. Bundesliga on Wednesday night.
Maric makes history
Tomislav Maric was the key man for Wolfsburg, making history by becoming the first player in the league’s history to score two goals in four successive matches. The striker’s goals in the 57th and 77th minutes helped ensure a 3-1 home win.
Loan signing scores
Leverkusen grabbed a late consolation through Oliver Neuville but it was not enough to stop a third league defeat in four matches. Leverkusen, who were unbeaten in the first 14 league games of the season, went behind five minutes before the break through a Róbson Ponte strike. Ponte was actually signed on loan from Leverkusen by coach Wolfgang Wolf.
Stevens to go
FC Schalke 04 will lose coach Huub Stevens at the end of the season and the signs are his players want him to go out with a bang. FC Hansa Rostock were dismissed 3-1 by the visitors who found out their coach’s decision at lunchtime on Wednesday.
Sand strike
Schalke went ahead in the 17th minute when Marc Wilmots fastened on to Marco van Hoogdalem's pass and struck the ball into the right corner from 15 yards. And striker Ebbe Sand increased the advantage in the 26th minute when he bundled the ball in following Sven Vermant's corner.
Blunder gave hope
Kai Oswald gave the home side hope when he reduced the arrears in the 70th minute, pouncing on a blunder in the Schalke backline. But Wilmots's second goal five minutes later ended Hansa's challenge, the Belgium midfielder heading in from close range after Emara failed to clear another dangerous Vermant corner.
Ten men triumph
There was another 3-1 win on Wednesday, this time for TSV 1860 München over hosts 1. FC Kaiserslautern. 1860 scored three goals in the last 70 minutes while down to ten men through Thomas Hassler’s penalty and strikes from Martin Max and Michael Wiesinger. Miroslav Klose had opened the scoring for the hosts in the 57th minute three minutes before 1860’s Uwe Ehlers was sent off. The final game finished with 1. FC Köln held 0-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart.
