Chicharito with a Hat trick. Photo courtesy of ESPN FC
Mexican Hat trick, a second coach firing, and a goal fiesta in Frankfurt highlight an excitement filled fifth match day in the Bundesliga.
Bayer Levekusen has had an unstable start to the season with surprising loses and surprising wins and this was no different as Chicharito completed his hat trick in second half stoppage time to sink Mainz 3-2.
Mainz got off to a good start as former Bayer players Levin Oztinali found Yunnis Mali for the matches opening goal. The lead was short lived as Javier Hernandez put a way the equalizer a mere 89 seconds later. Mainz looked not to be out done as three minutes later Stephan Bell scored to restore the carnival club’s lead. Chicharito would then score an early goal in the second half to set up the comeback. And then the completed hat track was secured unmarked for the Mexican to win the day.
Both Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin entered the match each with nine points from an opening 12 with a chance to move up the table. CONCACAF connections abound in the match and that found the equalizer as Michael Hector scored after his red card ban to end 3-3.
Things started off interesting as St Louis native Vedad Ibisevic converted a penalty to put the capital club up. As Berlin pushed numbers forward Frankfurt countered and Mexican Marco Fabian scored his second in three for the equalizer. With the half nearing a close a poorly cleared corner and Frankfurt captain Alex Meier scored moments before the half. On came Alex Esswein for Berlin at the half then one cross to Ibisevic, a brilliant shot from distance, and Berlin had regained the lead. With time ticking down an Ante Rebic cross into the box found the head of Jamaican Michael Hector to tie the match up.
Werder Bremen, still without a full time manager, was looking for their first points of the 16-17 campaign taking on big spending Wolfsburg. It ended in fireworks as Bremen got a pair of late goals for their first win of the season.
Wolfsburg with Mario Gomez were looking for a first win since the season opener. The first half was devoid of the initial break through but the second half had all the fireworks. A failed clearance on a cross was knocked in by new signing Robert Bauer, 1-0 to the Wolves. In a late push Austrian Florian Grillitsch put a ball in the box that from an acute angle Lennart Thy was able to put in for the equalizer. Not giving up Theodor Gebre Selassie headed in a corner in stoppage time for a dramatic first win of the season.
Bayern Munich needed the full 90 minutes as they dispatched rivals HSV for a 1-0 win that ended the Bruno Labadia reign for the northern club.
Rene Adler was the man on display for Hamburg who were looking for their first points since match day one as he faced a barrage from the reigning champions. It seemed that little of what Bayern was offering would get them anything but a share of the points. Then Frank Ribery used a bit of skill getting through to the box to find a streaking Joshua Kimmich who buried the shot in. This would prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Bruno Labadia, HSV firing their coach the following morning.
Other action in the Bundesliga
BVB fought off a feisty SC Freiburg to record a 3-1 win. A mere 20 goals scored and one conceded from their previous four matches. A run like this could tip the balance when they host European champions Real Madrid Tuesday.
FC Augsburg and Dirk Schuster got one up on his former club as Alfred Finnbogason scored the only goal in a convincing 1-0 victory.
Borussia Monchengladbach recorded yet another home victory as they handled FC Ingolstadt 2-0 at the Borussia Park. Perhaps the strong form at home will prove the difference as they host FC Barcelona on Wednesday.
Hoffenheim recorded their first victory of the season as they hosted and defeated Schalke 2-1. The fans of the Royal Blues might be distracted by a home Europa League win over Red Bull Salzburg Thursday but zero points in five matches has the club at the bottom of the Bundesliga.
FC Koln and RB Leipzig are both happy with sharing points with their hot start. 1-1 the match as both clubs look to their current place in the table that even in this early phase has both in the European places.
Player of the Week
Cannot look any further than Chicharito as his hat trick for Bayer Leverkusen was the difference maker in a 3-2 match. Despite his post match comments of this being 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen and not 3-2 Chicharito the fact remains that his star is about as big as any in this league and the club would be in a different place without him. He scores goals and brings attention away from his teammates to take advantage. Truly a captivating player.
German Football Phrase of the Week
Humba – the traditional post match celebration between the players and fans. The key player of the match leads the fans with a megaphone and leads the players in rhythm with swinging with the fans
