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BOUNDES LIGA: Bayern crash to first defeat at Stuttgart

Stuttgart's Fernando Meira, right, and Bayern Munich's Luca Toni, left, challenge for the ball during their German Bundesliga match in Stuttgart, Germany, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Ten-man Bayern Munich crashed to their first defeat of the season as they were humbled 3-1 by defending Bundesliga champions VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, but keep their place at the top of the table.

Two goals by Mario Gomez -- scorer of a double in their 4-2 defeat by Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday -- and a wonder strike by Turkish international Yildiray Basturk at Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion meant the leaders were in the shock situation of being 3-0 down at half time.

Bayern had only conceeded four league goals before this game and Stuttgart took the lead when Germany's player of the year Gomez met a cross at the far post and the ball went in off his hip on 10 minutes.

A net-buster of a shot from 30m by Basturk made it 2-0 before a bicycle kick from Brazilian Cacau was tapped back by Roberto Hilbert into the path of Gomez on 42 minutes who made it 3-0.

Bayern's coach Ottmar Hitzfeld responded by swapping Lukas Podolski after an ineffective first half with German international strike partner Miroslav Klose, the top scorer at last year's World Cup and adjusting his midfield.

But Bayern's fortunes did not improve as they were reduced to ten men after Brazilian Lucio was shown a red card on 70 minutes for lashing out against Stuttgart's Swiss defender Ludovic Magnin.

Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni hit a late consolation goal as Bayern fell to their first defeat in any competition this season.

In their defense, this was Munich's second game in less than 48 hours after they drew 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.

Werder Bremen are now just a point behind Bayern in second place as Brazilian midfielder Diego struck with two first-half goals as the home side won 4-0 against fourth-placed Karlsruhe.

Hamburg are in third after they fell behind to an early goal at Schalke 04 when defender Mladen Krstajic headed the home side into 1-0 lead on 12 minutes.

The guests got themselves level when Croatian striker Ivica Olic scored with a header on 35 minutes, and it finished 1-1.

Having struggled earlier in the season, Hansa Rostock are up to 14th as they picked up a much-needed three points after striker Enrico Kern hit a hat-trick in their 3-1 win over bottom club Energie Cottbus.

Hertha Berlin had Brazilian striker Andre Lima to thank as his goal three minutes from time gave his side a 1-0 win over Hanover at a snow-covered Olympic Stadium as a heavy shower before kick off made conditions difficult.

Mid-table side Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 at Borussia Dortmund.

On Friday night, VfL Bochum put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three with a 2-0 win over second-from-bottom Duisburg with goals by Canadian defender Daniel Imhof and Danish striker Tommy Bechmann.
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