Lukas Podolski and Mark van Bommel scored on Saturday to lift struggling Bayern Munich to a 2-1 Bundesliga win against VfL Wolfsburg.
Bayern, in fourth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 11 years, moved two points behind third-place Werder Bremen for the league's final spot in the European competition.
Werder Bremen, however, still had a game in hand yesterday against the last-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach.
PHOTO: EPA
Bayern appeared to be coasting after Podolski scored a penalty kick in the 26th minute. In the 55th, Van Bommel found himself unmarked after taking Bastian Schweinsteiger pass and shot inside the left post.
However, Bayern looked rattled after a 78th-minute goal from Cedrik Madiadi brought its 11th-place opponent back in the match.
"I think its going upward a bit," Van Bommel said. "I think we played well, outside of the last 15 minutes."
PHOTO: EPA
Bayern's defense was disorganized for Madiadi's goal. The ball ricocheted off several players in the area and the defending champions then scrambled just to prevent an equalizer.
"We talked beforehand about how Bayern lacks confidence right now," Wolfsburg player Kevin Hofland said. "That helped for 15 minutes, then we made some big mistakes."
Bayern survived several first-half Wolfsburg chances including Germany forward Mike Hanke sidefooting off the left post in the 43rd.
Schalke, which played Bayer Leverkusen yesterday, leads with 49 points, four more than Stuttgart, which drew 0-0 against Hertha Berlin on Friday.
Bremen is at 42 points, with Bayern at 40.
For the first time since the three-point rule was introduced in 1995, 10 sides are within five points of the relegation zone this late in the season.
Three of those sides, all once stuck in last place, are in the middle of impressive streaks -- Mainz, Hamburg and Hannover.
Mainz ran its record to a league-best five wins and a draw since the winter break -- when it was bottom -- with a 2-1 win against Nuremberg. The club is in the middle of one of the biggest turnarounds in Bundesliga history.
"I just can't fathom this streak myself," Mainz coach Juergen Klopp said. "We have just tried to climb back into this league and we have done that."
Forward Mohamed Zidan scored his sixth goal in three matches as Mainz handed fifth-placed Nuremberg its first loss since Nov. 7. Mainz has climbed to 10th -- although only four points separate it from relegation.
Hamburg won its third straight with a 3-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. Captain Rafael van der Vaart scored once and set up another goal.
Hannover remained unbeaten in five matches, climbing to seventh place with a 4-2 win against Borussia Dortmund, a rival for an UEFA Cup berth.
Hannover scored all its goals in the second half, with Arnold Bruggink hitting two.
Energie Cottbus also beat Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 and VfL Bochum and Alemannia Aachen drew 2-2.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and