Hamburg, Sep 26 (DPA) SV Hamburg and Schalke 04 edged closer to the leading German Bundesliga football side Bayern Munich with victories in midweek league games.
Schalke’s 2-0 victory at MSV Duisburg and SV Hamburg’s convincing 3-0 victory in Dortmund saw them move to 13 points in the table – just one behind Bayern Munich, who have an opportunity to move to four ahead if they beat bottom-placed Energie Cottbus Wednesday night.
Hertha Berlin, meanwhile, missed out on the opportunity of moving to the top of the table as they were stunned 1-3 at home by struggling Hansa Rostock.
In Dortmund, former SV Hamburg coach Thomas Doll failed to put one over his old club as Hamburg proved far too strong for Borussia Dortmund. To make matters worse for the home side, they had Florian Kringe sent off early in the second half.
A near capacity crowd of over 72,000 saw Paolo Guerrero, captain Rafael van der Vaart and Ivica Olic score for the visitors.
Schalke settled matters as early as the third minute as Halil Altintop scored the opening goal of the game in Duisburg. German international Kevin Kuranyi added a second in the 75th minute.
The victory sees them remain unbeaten in the season.
Werder Bremen could have joined Hamburg and Schalke at the top but managed only a 1-1 draw at VfL Wolfsburg.
The visitors went into the game with a very inexperienced side as they had 11 players out injured and in the first half neither side managed to create many chances.
Brazilian midfielder Diego, who extended his contract with Bremen Saturday, put the UEFA Champions League participants ahead early in the second half, but another Brazilian midfielder, Josue, equalised for the home side in the 63rd minute.
Struggling Rostock came from behind to register their second win of the season and first in Berlin. Just under 49,000 fans saw Marko Pantelic give the home side the lead after just 90 seconds, while Christian Rahn equalised five minutes from the break.
In the second half Rostock was the better side and deservedly went ahead through Sebastian Haehnge in the 54th minute. Substitute Regis Dorn gave Rostock the historic victory with the goal of the match in the 74th minute.