On Sunday, Hamburg SV went to the top of the Bundesliga with a win over Cologne. In the other match, Werder Bremen claimed the third spot in the table with a win over Hertha Berlin.
Hamburg went on top of the Bundesliga with a late penalty from winger Piotr Trochowski on Sunday in a 3-1 win over Cologne.
Goals in both halves from Peru striker Jose Paolo Guerrero had put Hamburg 2-0 ahead, but Germany winger Trochowski’s late spot kick made sure of the win, to put Hamburg ahead of Bayer Leverkusen in the standings on goals scored.
The first goal at Hamburg’s HSH Nordbank Arena came after just 19 minutes when Guerrero reacted to a mistake in the Cologne defense.
At 66 minutes Guerrero scored again while Cologne’s super sub Adil Chihi shot a consolation goal on 76 minutes, two minutes after coming off the bench, but Trochowski hit a penalty in the dying moments with time running out for Berlin.
Hamburg’s victory means that Cologne, still winless, stay at the bottom of the table.
Berlin’s Pal Dardai, left, and Bremen’s Tim Borowski challenge for the ball Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Berlin’s Pal Dardai, left, and Bremen’s Tim Borowski mix it up
Earlier in the day, Werder Bremen sealed up the third spot on the table after a 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin.
A pair of second-half goals by Germans Tim Borowski and Mesut Oezil put Werder 2-0 up in the German capital before Berlin’s midfielder Lukasz Piszczek pulled a goal back on 77 minutes.
Bremen nailed their three points when Oezil set up Brazilian defender Naldo on 83 minutes, only for Berlin’s Patrick Ebert to send the ball into the net in injury time, for his side’s second at the Olympic Stadium.
“We already had superiority in the first half, but we didn’t show enough purpose,” said Thomas Schaaf, Bremen’s coach. “I am happy about the result, we applied some good pressure and got the rewards.”
The defeat leaves Hertha Berlin just third from bottom of the table after their third straight league defeat in four games while Bremen trail behind Hamburg and Leverkusen with seven points.
Saturday’s games
Munich’s Arjen Robben, right, celebrates his side’s third goal with Franck Ribery Bildunterschrift: Munich’s Arjen Robben, right, celebrates his side’s third goal with Franck Ribery
After getting off to their worst start in 43 years, Bayern Munich have finally grabbed their first victory – and they didn’t beat just anyone – they trounced last year’s champions Wolfsburg.
It was Bayern Munich’s new signing Arjen Robben who made the difference. The Dutchman got his Bundesliga career off to a dream start on Saturday evening, scoring twice for Munich in their first victory of the season. The win sees Bayern pick up their first three points this season.
“It was sensational,” the 25-year old said, “coming on and scoring two goals. But that was only the beginning. I want to play here and I want to win the title. The whole team deserves praise.”
Germany’s striker Mario Gomez put Bayern Munich ahead in the 27th minute; and Munich were clearly the stronger side. But when their new coach Louis van Gaal fielded Robben at the start of the second half, the side stepped up the pressure on Wolfsburg even more.
Arjen Robben made his first appearance just one day after signing from Real Madrid. The Dutch winger opened his account in the 68th minute and was on target again 12 minutes later.
The Dutchman who cost Bayern 26 million euros gave his new club the first win of the season in four games. Only last week Bayern were humiliated 2-1 by Mainz. The win lifts Bayern from 17th to seventh in the table. Champions Wolfsburg are now ranked sixth after their second consecutive defeat.
Schalke suffer their first defeat of the season
Earlier on Saturday, Schalke suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Freiburg in what was Schalke’s first defeat under new coach Felix Magath. South Korean defender Du-Ri Cha scored the only goal of the game five minutes from the break.
Freiburg’s Yacine Abdessadki, left, Freiburg’s Du-Ri Cha, center, and Freiburg’s Tommy Bechmann, right, celebrate scoring the first goalBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Underdogs Freiburg beat Schalke 1-0
Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat Bochum 2-1 and move to the top of the Bundesliga standings. Leverkusen have 10 points after four games, three ahead of Hamburg who are to face Cologne on Sunday.
Hoffenheim secured their first three-pointer of the season with a 1-0 victory at struggling Hanover. Nuremberg held Stuttgart to a goalless draw while Dortmund settled for 1-1 with Frankurt. On Friday, Mainz were beaten 2-0 at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Sunday’s fixtures are Hertha Berlin versus Werder Bremen while Cologne is to play at Hamburg.
– By Nigel Tandy l Reuters