Bayer Leverkusen celebrate
BERLIN – Simon Rolfes scored twice Saturday to lead Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 over Energie Cottbus and continue its resurgence as the Bundesliga resumed after a six-week winter break.
The Germany midfielder scored in the 59th minute and then with a penalty kick in the 86th to lift Leverkusen into third place in the standings.
”It was difficult because the pitch was so poor,” Rolfes said. ”But because of our effort in the second half, we deserved the win, even if the end was really hectic.”
Cottbus had two late goals disallowed and the 14,000 home fans were disgruntled by the penalty call.
”I have to be careful here I don’t blow my top and get myself in trouble,” Cottbus midfielder Timo Rost said. ”Everything was called against us. With a little more sensitivity, we would have won.”
Leverkusen, which hadn’t been expected to challenge for a Champions League spot this season, passed Hamburger SV on goal difference after it drew 1-1 with Hannover 96.
Bayern leads with 39, three more than Werder Bremen, which is at home to VfL Bochum on Sunday. Leverkusen and Hamburg are next with 33 points.
Michal Papadopulos, who moved from Leverkusen during the winter break, put Cottbus ahead against the flow of play with a 14th-minute header.
Rolfes levelled after being fastest to a deflected corner that was headed into the area.
That caused a hectic finish to the game.
Dimitri Bulykin put Leverkusen 2-1 up in the 69th before Christian Bassila equalized in the 77th.
Martin Fenin made a sensational Bundesliga debut with a hat trick as Eintracht Frankfurt routed Hertha Berlin 3-0. The 20-year-old Czech scored in the 39th, 60th and 90th minutes.
Hamburg gained a draw against No. 7 Hannover when Ivica Olic scored in the 70th after Rafael van der Vaart’s attempt was blocked. Hamburg went close four times just before equalizing.
Hannover went ahead on Szabolc’s 40th-minute penalty kick, and Hamburg coach Huub Stevens criticized his team at halftime despite his team twice coming close to levelling.
”If you don’t get loud after a half like that, you are in the wrong profession,” Steven said.
Karlsruher SC, with one of the smallest budgets of any team, beat FC Nuremberg 2-0 to stay fifth.
MSV Duisburg and Borussia Dortmund drew 3-3 and Wolfsburg edged Arminia Bielefeld 1-0.
On Friday, Bayern Munich edged Hansa Rostock 2-1.
Source: GER: Leverkusen move into third place
