Cacau treble cheers Stuttgart
Sunday, August 8, 2004
Article summary
Forward Cacau scored a hat-trick as VfB Stuttgart began the new Bundesliga season with a 4-2 win.
Article body
VfB Stuttgart began the new Bundesliga season in positive fashion as Cacau scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 win against newly-promoted FSV Mainz 05.
Quick-fire double
The Brazilian striker opened the scoring after 20 minutes and added his and Stuttgart's second nine minutes later, although Christof Babatz halved the deficit three minutes after half-time with Mainz's first goal ever in the German top flight.
Second-half goals
Midfield player Silvio Meissner restored Stuttgart's two-goal cushion within three minutes, with Tomasz Bodog bringing the visitors back into contention once again as he made it 3-2 with 15 minutes left to play.
Cacau conclusive
Cacau wrapped up the points 12 minutes from time, however, scoring his third and Stuttgart's fourth to ensure the majority of the 44,000-strong crowd went home happy.
Goalless draw
Elsewhere on Sunday, another promoted side, DSC Arminia Bielefeld, had to settle for a goalless draw against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, who had defender Marcelo Pletsch sent off on 36 minutes, but managed to keep the home side at bay.
