Bayern Munich consolidated their lead at the top of the Bundesliga when they came from behind to beat reigning champions Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in an ill-tempered Bundesliga encounter on Saturday.
Dortmund were reduced to 9 players when first midfielder Torsten Frings was dismissed just before the break and then keeper Jens Lehmann was dismissed for disputing Bayern’s winner midway through the second-half.
Earlier, Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso’s shot was deflected past Oliver Kahn by Jan Koller to give Dortmund the lead bbut Bayern piled on the pressure when Frings was dimissed and it camme as no surprise when Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz drew them level on 62 minutes. The winner camethree minutes later when Claudio Pizarro scored from close range.
The victory came as a relief to Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who has been under pressure the since the club’s Champions League exit.
Stuttgart moved third, just a point behind Dortmund, as Romanian international striker Ioan Ganea scored a hat-trick to seal a 3-2 home win against Bochum.
1860 Munich stay fourth despite a 1-0 defeat at Hamburg. Bernardo Romeo scored the only goal of the match after 29 minutes to send Hamburg to 11th spot.
Wolfsburg are up into seventh position after a 3-1 home victory over fifth-placed Werder Bremen.Goals from Martin Petrov, Robson Ponte and Steffen Effenberg, were enough to seal the points for Wolfsburg. Johan Micoud replied foor th visiitors, who had Angelos Charisteas
Improving Bayer Leverkusen collected anotehr three points when Bernd Schneider scored a dramatic late winner against Schalke 04 1-0 at the Parkstadion. With game looking destined for a goalless draw, Schalke’s Frank Rost was sent off with a minnute remaining before Schneider converted from the penalty spot to seal the win.
Borussia Monchengladbach, who had lost 6 of their last 7 matches, beat bottom-club Energie Cottbus 3-0.
