Hamburg pile on misery for rock-bottom Hertha

AFP - 4 October 2009 17:50

Stuttgart´s midfielder Sami Khedira vies for the ball with Werder Bremen´s striker Aaron Hunt (left) during the German first division Bundesliga match in Stuttgart. Werder Bremen strikers Claudio Pizarro and Hunt both netted to seal a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart which lifted their side up to fourth in the Bundesliga.

BERLIN (AFP) - Hamburg blitzed rock-bottom Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin 3-1 in the German capital on Sunday, but still missed out on regaining top spot from new leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Berlin had confirmed Friedhelm Funkel as their new coach on Saturday, following last week's sacking of Lucien Favre, and the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt boss took immediate charge.

"We started very well, we were competing well and took the lead, but all of those three goals were unbelievable," said Berlin captain Arne Friedrich.

"We just could not recover from those set-backs."

But the Germany centre-back said Funkel is the man to lead Hertha out of trouble.

"He makes a positive impression."

Hertha got off to a dream start after nine minutes when Germany defender Arne Friedrich headed home a cross from Patrick Ebert at the far post from four metres out.

It sparked a long run of celebration at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, but the delight was short lived.

Hertha's Brazilian defender Kaka headed into his own net on 24 minutes and Hamburg added to the home side's misery when midfielder David Jarolim scored a great goal from 25 metres out on 38 minutes.

Barely a minute later ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Ze Roberto scored with a long-range effort to make it 3-1 at the break.

Hertha failed to make any impact in the second-half and the result leaves Hamburg second in the table on goal difference behind Leverkusen.

Earlier Werder Bremen strikers Claudio Pizarro and Aaron Hunt both netted to seal a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart which lifted their side up to fourth.

Bremen have only lost one game all season and Thomas Schaaf's men were rarely troubled by Stuttgart who are now 13th.

"We took another step forward today, the team played well and concentrated from first minute to last on what they had to do," said Bremen coach Schaaf.

"We had a bit of luck with the early goal, but that is what you need."

Werder got off to the pefect start when Germany squad member Marko Marin beat Stuttgart defender Stefano Celozzi and swung in a cross to the far post which ex-Chelsea forward Pizarro headed home on three minutes.

Hunt made sure of the three points when Germany midfielder Mesut Oezil spotted a huge gap in the Stuttgart defence.

Oezil floated his pass and Hunt drove his shot into the bottom right corner on 51 minutes past Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

On Saturday, Leverkusen took over at the top with a 4-0 mauling of struggling Nuremberg while both Bayern Munich and defending champions Wolfsburg both drew.

Bayern were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Cologne which leaves them eighth.

Wolfsburg's erratic form continues as the defending champions drew 1-1 at Bochum.

Mainz picked up their fourth win in six games with a convincing 2-1 victory over Hoffenheim.

Hanover ran riot with a 5-2 win over Freiburg after bolting out to a 2-0 lead in the opening ten minutes while Borussia Dortmund won 1-0 against Moenchengladbach.

On Friday, substitute Gerald Asamoah scored his first goal in over 10 months to help Schalke bounce back from losing their last two games by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0.