November 2, 2009
Leverkusen Finishes at Top After Day of Blown Leads
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bayer Leverkusen squandered a two-goal lead and drew at Schalke, but still went a point clear at the top of the German Bundesliga because Hamburg paid a heavier price for its inability and suffered its first league defeat of the season, at home to lowly Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Bayer kicked off Saturday evening against fourth-placed Schalke knowing that none of the other leading teams had won in the afternoon.
It dominated the first half. After 29 minutes, Toni Kroos blasted a volley past keeper Manuel Neuer from the edge of the penalty area.
A minute before halftime, Stefan Kiessling headed his seventh league goal of the season.
Schalke surged forward in the second period. In the 83rd minute, Kevin Kuranyi ended a goalmouth scramble by knocking the ball over the line. Vicente Sanchez grabbed another goal in the 88th minute.
“We collapsed at the back towards the end,” Rene Adler, the Leverkusen keeper, told reporters. “We definitely gave away two points tonight.”
Piotr Trochowski put Hamburg ahead after 13 minutes but Marco Reus leveled with a lob before halftime. Ze Roberto restored Hamburg’s lead with a free kick two minutes into the second half, but Dante’s powerful header made it 2-2 in the 76th minute.
Rob Friend then scored the winner and give Mönchengladbach its first away victory of the season.
Werder Bremen pushed Hamburg out of second place as it came from behind to earn a last-minute 2-2 draw at Nuremberg. Aaron Hunt scored both the Bremen goals, the second in added time. The draw meant Bremen remained unbeaten for a 17th consecutive match.
Fifth-placed Bayern Munich drew 0-0 at Stuttgart, who ended their five-match losing streak.
Wolfsburg also squandered a lead. Obafemi Martins scored twice to put the defending champion 2-0 up after 20 minutes. Chadli Amri and Andreas Ivanschitz replied before halftime.
Zvjezdan Misimovic fired Wolfsburg ahead again in the 64th minute but Tim Hoogland earned the point for the promoted team in the 85th minute.
The Associated Press