The Hindu : Sport / Football : Bremen dethrones Bayern, bags Bundesliga title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 10, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

Bremen dethrones Bayern, bags Bundesliga title

FRANKFURT, MAY 9 . Werder Bremen beat Bayern Munich 3-1 to dethrone the defending champion and capture its first Bundesliga title since 1993.

Ivan Klasnic, Johan Micoud and Ailton scored in the first half at Munich's Olympic stadium to secure Bremen's fourth championship yesterday with two rounds remaining in the season.

Bremen toyed with the outgoing champion before a capacity crowd of 65,000 and proved beyond a doubt that it was the best team in the league.

``We worked very hard for this,'' Micoud said. ``We've believed for a long time that we'd win the title, but we didn't speak about it openly.''

Bremen now has 74 points and cannot be overtaken by Bayern, which is nine points behind at 65.

``It's sensational what we've done,'' said Bremen's coach Thomas Schaaf.

The defeat left Bayern, Germany's most successful club, without silverware this season. Bayern was knocked out of the Champions League in the second round and was eliminated from the German Cup by a second-division team.

But Bayern can still hope to clinch second place and direct qualification for the Champions League thanks to Stuttgart's 2-1 loss at Hamburger, SV. Stuttgart (61 points) can cut the gap next week at home against Bayern. Bremen ran its unbeaten streak to 23 games.

The club from northern Germany has dominated the season and has won fans across the country with its attractive, offensive style.

Apart from striker Ailton, who leads the league with 27 goals, Bremen's game revolves around the play making skills of French star Micoud. Another Frenchmen, Valerien Ismael, anchors a stingy defense.

But Bremen will be without Ailton and another star defender, Mladen Krstajic, in next season's Champions League. Both are leaving for Bundesliga rival Schalke.

Ailton was crying openly as he hugged coach Schaaf after the match. Schaaf has been at the club since 1999.

Bayern began the season with the ambition of sweeping three trophies. Instead, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was left pondering what went wrong with his star-studded side. Bayern officials have stressed that Hitzfeld will serve out his contract, which runs out at the end of the next season.

Croatian striker Klasnic capitalised on a huge mistake by Bayern captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, to put Bremen ahead after 19 minutes. Micoud made it 2-0 after 26 and Ailton added the third in the 35th.

It was the first time in 30 years that Bayern conceded three goals in the first 45 minutes.

``Bremen has played the best soccer this season and they didn't allow themselves to get distracted,'' Hitzfeld said.

``It's an ironic twist of fate that Kahn, one of our best, makes this mistake.''

Bayern was magnanimous in defeat and presented Bremen players with champagne after the match. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport