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nachi88
04-30-2005, 03:48 PM
Ballack goal and makaay hatrick make bayern win title

The champagne corks were popping on Saturday afternoon after Bayern's thumping win over pitiful Kaiserslautern and Schalke's failure to beat Leverkusen handed Munich a thoroughly deserved 19th domestic championship, Felix Magath's first trophy as a coach in his debut season at the Bavarian club.

The 40,721 full house at the Fritz Walter stadium saw Munich cruise into a commanding two-goal lead before half-time, goals from Michael Ballack and Roy Makaay hardly reflecting the gulf in class between the expansive visitors and the shockingly lacklustre hosts.

Makaay completed his brace three minutes into the second period and bumped his tally up to a hat-trick mid-way through the half as Munich threatened to run amok, but the champions-elect showed mercy and contented themselves with the four-goal victory.

The result, combined with Schalke's 3-3 draw against Leverkusen and Stuttgart's defeat in Gladbach, leaves Bayern uncatchable at the top on 68 points from 31 matches, eleven clear with only three games remaining.

Felix Magath made two changes to the side which beat Bochum last weekend, restoring fit-again Robert Kovac to centre-half at Martin Demichelis's expense, with Michael Rensing deputising in goal for thumb-injury victim Oliver Kahn.

Ballack captained the side in Kahn's absence and swiftly stamped his presence on a game the visitors dominated from the kick-off, gleefully exploiting the acres of space turned over to them by the ill-at-ease home outfit.

Claudio Pizarro might have had a hat-trick in the first quarter-hour, but keeper Thomas Ernst gathered at the second attempt with no more than 30 seconds on the clock and beat out the Peruvian's 15th minute drive.

In between, Pizza crashed a header back off the bar, although TV showed Marco Engelhardt had the las

t touch in a half full of mishap for the Lautern defender.

The long-overdue lead finally arrived in the 19th minute, Ballack delivering his sixth goal in ten meetings against his former club with a crisp shot on the turn from Makaay's deft backheel.

Ernst again foiled Pizarro and Owen Hargreaves drove narrowly wide as the Reds continued to boss the pitiful home side at will. The second goal was only a matter of time and duly came after 35 minutes, Makaay rising unchallenged to meet Willy Sagnol's fine cross and flick a header past Ernst's despairing dive.

The visitors eased back and comfortably held the lead through to the break, but promptly extended it three minutes after the restart as Hargreaves' defence-splitting long ball left Makaay to nod past the onrushing Ernst and slot home, the simplest of chances for a man of his class.

The two Bastis, Deisler and Schweinsteiger, replaced Hargreaves and Zé Roberto on 51 minutes, before Rensing finally enjoyed the chance to show off his talent with an accomplished tip-over from Riedl's drive on the hour, although the youngster enjoyed a slice of luck when he fumbled his next save onto the bar, only to collect the rebound safely.

Bayern were not yet satisfied and Makaay was still in his own half when he set off in pursuit of Ballack's delicious through ball after 67 minutes. The Dutch ace accelerated away and completed his hat-trick with aplomb as the scoreline began to resemble a rout.

Late sub Mehmet Scholl combined exquisitely with Pizarro ten minutes from time only for Mettomo to head off the line, but it was now simply a matter of waiting for the final whistle and the news from Gelsenkirchen, sparking scenes of delerious joy as the championship triumph was confirmed.
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now for the double. :thumbsup:

Lance Knight
05-01-2005, 07:41 AM
Saturday, April 30, 2005

Bundesliga: Bayern wrap up title


FRANKFURT, April 30 (Reuters) - Roy Makaay struck a hat-trick to fire Bayern Munich to their 19th German title with a 4-0 win over Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
With Schalke 04's challenge fizzling out in a 3-3 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern's win gave them an unassailable 11-point lead at the top of the standings with three games to play.


Bayern's fifth Bundesliga title in seven years came in their first season under new coach Felix Magath.

'This is obviously a huge moment for me,' Magath said. 'It's a real relief, a joyful moment. This title goes to the best team over 10 months.'

With 31 games played, Bayern lead with 68 points, followed by Schalke on 57 after they squandered a 3-1 lead at home to Leverkusen and failed to take advantage of the sending-off of Roque Junior with over 20 minutes still to play.

Bayern will seal a domestic double if they beat Schalke in the Cup final in Berlin on May 28.

VfB Stuttgart, who lost 2-0 at Borussia Moenchengladbach, are clinging on to the third Champions League qualification slot with 55 points.

Michael Ballack set Bayern on their way with a top-class finish.

Ballack, captaining the side in the absence of injured goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, pounced on a backheel from Makaay and drilled in at the near post in the 19th minute.

Makaay's flick header from a Willy Sagnol cross made it 2-0 in the 35th minute and the Dutch international smacked in the third three minutes into the second half after nodding an Owen Hargreaves through ball past the keeper to set up the chance.

Makaay completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute when he took a long ball forward from Ballack and steered the ball past the keeper.

The Bayern players then waited by television monitors to check on the game between Schalke and Leverkusen.

Two stunning free kicks from Lincoln and an Ebbe Sand strike had brought Schalke back from a goal down and into a 3-1 lead but goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Andriy Voronin brought Leverkusen level by the 64th minute.

Two minutes later, Roque Junior was sent off for a foul on Sand but Schalke missed a series of chances to re-take the lead and the final whistle sparked celebrations for Bayern, with the players cracking open bottles of beer to drench each other and their coach.

'We proved that we have the best team,' Ballack said. 'We're going to celebrate tonight.'