Leaders Leverkusen batter Freiburg
Reuters - Sunday 31 January 2010, 19:16
BERLIN - Bayer Leverkusen struck three
times in four minutes to ease past Freiburg 3-1 and reclaim top
spot in the Bundesliga on Sunday, two points ahead of Bayern
Munich.
Stefan Kiessling, the league's top scorer, netted his 13th
goal of the season when he headed in a Tranquillo Barnetta cross
in the 36th minute. Eren Derdiyok made it 2-0 and Sami Hyypia
added a third on 40 minutes with a powerful header.
Felix Bastians pulled one back for the visitors with a solo
effort midway through the second half.
Leverkusen restored their two-point lead over Bayern, who
had briefly gone top on Saturday after their 3-0 win over Mainz.
Schalke 04 remained in third place, a further point behind,
following their 2-0 victory over Hoffenheim.
Undefeated Leverkusen, who boast the league's best attack
and defence, have now won their last four matches, scoring at
least three goals in each.
Yet for the first half hour it was the visitors who were
more aggressive and were only denied an early lead by two
spectacular saves from Leverkusen keeper Rene Adler.
"We had problems in the early stages but once we up our
tempo then we also score the goals we want," Leverkusen coach
Jupp Heynckes told reporters.
"We have set out to clinch a spot that will lead to Europe
football next season and things are looking good for now."
INNOCUOUS CROSS
The hosts only needed half a chance to score and they got it
when Swiss international Barnetta lifted a seemingly innocuous
cross into the box in the 36th minute.
Kiessling beat his marker to head in and end his 486-minute
goal drought.
The hosts were gifted a second goal 66 seconds later with
Freiburg keeper Simon Pouplin fumbling a pass forward, sending
the ball to Derdiyok who had no trouble beating the hapless
Frenchman for his eighth goal of the season.
Just three minutes later veteran defender Hyypia exploded
into action to score with a powerful header from a Toni Kroos
corner.
Freiburg were left scrambling in the second half and cut the
deficit through Bastians' deft shot at the near post.
Leverkusen playmaker Toni Kroos, who has been outstanding
this season, played down title talk.
"It is far too early to talk about the title," the
midfielder, on loan from Bayern Munich, told reporters.
"We continue to chase the targets we have set and we won't
change them. We are winning our points and that is working
pretty well," he said.