by ldh2013 » Tue Jul 05, 2016 7:17 am
BERLIN -- Unbeaten Bayern Munich cruised past Werder Bremen 7-0 for the sides 13th win from 15 games in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while Bayer Leverkusen won 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund. . Bayern winger Franck Ribery marked his league return after recovering from a cracked rib by scoring two goals and setting up two more as the league leaders inflicted the heaviest home defeat on Bremen in the Bundesliga. "It was the most frustrating game for me since Ive been at Werder," Bremen captain Clemens Fritz said. Bremen defender Assani Lukimya turned Riberys cross beyond his own goalkeeper in the 21st minute, Daniel van Buyten rose above two defenders to head Toni Kroos free kick inside the left post six minutes later, and Thomas Mueller crossed to give Ribery a simple finish in the 38th. Ribery then crossed for Mario Mandzukic to score on the hour, and Mario Goetze set up Mueller to make it 5-0 in the 68th. Ribery claimed his second goal in the 82nd, when former Bremen striker Claudio Pizarro sent David Alaba through with his heel and the young Austrian pulled the ball back for the Frenchman to crown his performance. Mueller crossed for Goetze to wrap up the scoring from a difficult angle in the 90th. "Were all happy," Ribery said. Bayern stretched its Bundesliga record unbeaten run to 40 games. "Today it was an honour to be a coach here," said Bayerns Pep Guardiola, who became the first coach in the Bundesliga not to lose any of his first 15 games. "Personally, its not special for me," the former Barcelona coach said of the record. Son Heung-mins 18th-minute strike was enough for second-place Leverkusen to inflict Dortmunds second successive defeat at home in the Bundesliga. Former Leverkusen defender Manuel Friedrichs wayward pass from defence was intercepted by Emre Can. Can passed to Gonzalo Castro who fed Son, who rounded Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and scored from a narrow angle. Dortmund improved after the break but laboured to break down Leverkusens well-drilled defence. Leverkusen defender Emir Spahic was sent off in the 81st for pushing Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the face. Mkhitaryan took issue with Spahics heavy challenge on Robert Lewandowski. Dortmund also finished with 10 men after Sokratis received his second yellow card in injury time. Dortmunds injury worries increased with both Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin taken to hospital with ankle injuries. Earlier, Borussia Moenchengladbach defeated 10-man Schalke 2-1 to consolidate fourth place. Stuttgart beat Hannover 4-2, Augsburg won 1-0 at Hamburger SV though Raul Bobadillas 18th-minute strike, and Hoffenheim won 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt to leave the home side 10 league games without a win. Hoffenheim striker Sven Schipplock scored after the break, in-form Spanish striker Joselu -- on loan from Hoffenheim -- equalized two minutes later, and Schipplock set up Roberto Firmino to score three minutes after that. "We dont have the cleverness and serenity you get when youre successful," Frankfurt coach Armin Veh said. Schalke took the lead in Moenchengladbach through Jefferson Farfans penalty in the 17th. The spot kick was awarded after Julian Korb hauled back Kevin-Prince Boateng in the area. Raffael equalized against his former side seven minutes later with a stunning strike inside the far top corner from some 20 metres (yards). It got worse for the visitors before the break when Benedikt Hoewedes conceded a penalty and received his second yellow card for blocking Max Kruses shot with his arm. Kruse duly converted the spot kick to leave the home fans singing into the interval. Gladbach held on for its sixth win in a row -- the clubs best run for 26 years -- while Schalke coach Jens Keller is under increasing pressure after his side also lost in the German Cup on Tuesday. Schalke chairman Clemens Toennies indicated Kellers job was not immediately on the line. "We now have other very important games ahead of us. The question of the coach is not for now. Its about getting wins in the next games," said Toennies, whose side must beat Basel at home on Wednesday to remain in the Champions League. Ibrahima Traore broke the 2-2 deadlock for Stuttgart in the 52nd, and Konstantin Rausch secured the result against his former Hannover side with a fine finish in the 84th. "This is very annoying," Hannover coach Mirko Slomka said. . "It was one of the worst feelings Ive had in hockey for sure," the Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman said. Being forced to sit and watch the first three Canadian games of this years tournament has been almost as painful. . Brady XVI is in the books and we might not have to wait until next season to see the next installment of the rivalry pitting Peyton Manning and Tom Brady (or is it Bill Belichick?)Im pretty sure well see them again, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. . He just doesnt know when. The Cardinals and his agent are in the early stages of negotiations, Peterson said, with no timetable on reaching an agreement. TORONTO -- Another year, another outstanding player award nomination for Anthony Calvillo. The veteran quarterback was named the Montreal Alouettes nominee for the award Wednesday in voting conducted by members of the Football Reporters of Canada as well as the eight CFL head coaches. Calvillo has won the honour three times (03, 08, 09), been voted the Als top player nine times and is looking to be the East Division nominee for a fourth straight season. The 39-year-old Calvillo has enjoyed a banner campaign, leading the CFL in passing yards (5,188) and touchdowns (32) while surrendering just eight interceptions. And earlier this season Calvillo became the CFLs all-time leader in completions (5,345), touchdown passes (418) and passing yards (73,349). But Calvillo wasnt a unanimous selection, not a surprise given Montreals Jamel Richardson leads the CFL in catches (110), receiving yards (1,772) and touchdown receptions (11). Also, tailback Brandon Whitaker posted a league-high 1,364 yards rushing in his first season as the Alouettes starter. However, its Calvillo who makes Montreals high-powered offence go. Under his guidance, the Alouettes lead the CFL in scoring (30.2 points per game), passing (321.8 yards per game) and total yards (419 yards per game). The other East Division nominees include kick-returner/receiver Chad Owens of the Toronto Argonauts, defensive lineman Justin Hickman of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and defensive back Jovon Johnson of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Owens leads the CFL with 3,345 all-purpose yards and became the first player in pro football history to surpass the 3,000-yard plateau in consecutive seasons. Hickman has helped anchor a rugged Hamilton defence with 12 sacks, one behind CFL leader Odell Willis of the Blue Bombers. Johnson has a league-best seven interceptions, returning two for TDs, and is also second in punt returns (64 for 517 yards) and missed field goal returns (seven for 201 yards). Quarterback Travis Lulay, who has led the B.C. Lions to nine wins over the clubs last 10 games, was a unanimous selection to top the West Division nominees. Also nominated were quarterback Ricky Ray of the Edmonton Eskimos and receivers Weston Dressler of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Nik Lewis of the Calgary Stampeders (unanimous). Lulay is second to Calvillo in passing yards (4,535) and touchdowns (28) and has also rushed for 340 yards (7.7-yard average) and three TDs. Ray is third in passing yards (4,289) and has also thrown 22 touchdown strikes. Lewis is third in CFL receiving with 89 catches for 1,153 yards and five touchdowns while Dressler was Saskatchewans top pass catcher with 78 receptions for 1,034 yards and five TDs. Johnson received the most opening-round nominations with three. He was also named the Bombers top defensive player and outstanding special-teams performer. "I think I played pretty well, its been proobably my best season of late," Johnson said. . "I would have loved to get more opportunities as a returner but you know, its just one of those things. "Youre mixing in guys and giving everybody looks and, being a team player, you accept that, You know your role and I just try to keep pushing ahead and moving forward and trying to make plays for our team." Owens was also Torontos nominee for the CFLs top special-teams player, an honour he captured last year. Also nominated twice were kickers Sean Whyte of Montreal and Paul McCallum of the B.C. Lions, both getting the nod as their clubs top Canadian and special-teams performer. Thats interesting, given the Lions dealt Whyte to Montreal in the off-season. The change of scenery hasnt hurt as White leads the CFL in scoring with 196 points, has made 45-of-51 field goal tries and sports a 41.1-yard punting average. The 41-year-old McCallum, a 19-year veteran and the CFLs oldest player, has been money this season. He has hit on 45-of-48 field goals (league-high 93.8 per cent) and made the longest boot of the season at 57 yards. The division finalists will be announced next week. The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 24 in Vancouver. Worth watching will be who gets the nod as top Canadian in the West Division because theres no shortage of worthy candidates. Joining McCallum are Calgary tailback Jon Cornish (a unanimous pick with 825 rushing yards and a stellar 7.4-yard average), Edmonton running back Jerome Messam (another unanimous selection with 981 rushing yards) and Saskatchewan slotback Chris Getzlaf (53 catches for 940 yards and eight TDs). Messam is attempting to become the first Canadian-born 1,000-yard rusher since Sean Millington did so with the B.C. Lions 2000. Messam began the year in B.C., but was dealt to Edmonton during training camp. In the East, Toronto defensive end Ricky Foley (67 tackles, five sacks), Hamilton slotback Dave Stala (50 catches, 687 yards, eight TDs) and Winnipeg receiver Cory Watson (65 catches, 757 yards, one TD) got the nod as top Canadian. The East Division nomination for top rookie figures to be a two-horse race between receivers Chris Williams of Hamilton and Winnipegs Clarence Denmark, both unanimous picks. Williams has 65 catches for 1,012 yards and six touchdowns but Denmark has been a solid contributor with the Bombers with 60 receptions for 764 yards and four TDs. In the West, Edmonton linebacker J.C. Sherrit (72 tackles) was a unanimous selection as top rookie but Saskatchewan safety Craig Butler (team-high five interceptions, 42 tackles) has been very impressive. Notably absent in the nominations, though, was B.C. linebacker Solomon Elimimian as top defensive player despite being tied for second in the CFL in tackles (91). Defensive lineman Keron Williams (11 sacks) got the Lions nod for that award. ' ' '
