Bundesliga: Game abandoned after crowd trouble

Schalke led 2-0 away to St Pauli when Friday’s Bundesliga match was abandoned due to an object striking the assistant referee.

Playing in their first match under new coach Ralf Rangnick, veteran Spanish striker Raul put visitors Schalke 1-0 up after 26 minutes at the Millerntor-Stadion.

St Pauli had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half and Schalke doubled their lead seconds later, with a strike from substitute Julian Draxler.

Defender Jan-Philipp Kalla was sent off for a second bookable offence and St Pauli were down to nine men when Fin Bartels was shown a straight red in the 79th minute.

Officials abandoned the match just minutes before the final whistle when assistant referee Thorsten Schiffner – the man who disallowed St Pauli’s goal – was hit by a missile thrown from the stands, believed to be a full plastic beer cup.

“We had to call off the game. There was no other choice,” referee Deniz Aytekin said.

“Even in the first half the assistants had been hit by lighters and coins.”

The game was immediately halted and the players taken off the pitch, with the officials forced to shelter under the umbrellas of security staff as more projectiles were hurled in their direction.

It is yet to be announced if the points will be awarded to Schalke or if the match will be replayed.

St Pauli, third from bottom and in the relegation play-off places, face the possibility of a heavy fine, stadium ban and a points deduction.

“Such scenes are unacceptable,” St Pauli coach Holger Stanislawski said.

“These things should not happen in stadiums. I can only apologise to the assistant in the name of St Pauli.”

Fri 1 April, 2011

Bundesliga: Game abandoned after crowd trouble

Schalke led 2-0 away to St Pauli when Friday’s Bundesliga match was abandoned due to an object striking the assistant referee.

Playing in their first match under new coach Ralf Rangnick, veteran Spanish striker Raul put visitors Schalke 1-0 up after 26 minutes at the Millerntor-Stadion.

St Pauli had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half and Schalke doubled their lead seconds later, with a strike from substitute Julian Draxler.

Defender Jan-Philipp Kalla was sent off for a second bookable offence and St Pauli were down to nine men when Fin Bartels was shown a straight red in the 79th minute.

Officials abandoned the match just minutes before the final whistle when assistant referee Thorsten Schiffner – the man who disallowed St Pauli’s goal – was hit by a missile thrown from the stands, believed to be a full plastic beer cup.

“We had to call off the game. There was no other choice,” referee Deniz Aytekin said.

“Even in the first half the assistants had been hit by lighters and coins.”

The game was immediately halted and the players taken off the pitch, with the officials forced to shelter under the umbrellas of security staff as more projectiles were hurled in their direction.

It is yet to be announced if the points will be awarded to Schalke or if the match will be replayed.

St Pauli, third from bottom and in the relegation play-off places, face the possibility of a heavy fine, stadium ban and a points deduction.

“Such scenes are unacceptable,” St Pauli coach Holger Stanislawski said.

“These things should not happen in stadiums. I can only apologise to the assistant in the name of St Pauli.”

Fri 1 April, 2011

Bundesliga: Moenchengladbach 0 Kaiserslautern 1

Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Logan Bailly’s own goal handed Kaiserslautern a 1-0 away win in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Kaiserslautern entered the match in good form, having unbeaten in three games, while Moenchengladbach had only lost one of their last four as they aim to try and escape the relegation zone.

But their hopes of survival took a dip with Bailly’s bizarre own goal, which came just after the hour mark.

The Belgian international conceded when he punched Christian Tiffert’s corner into the back of his own net and he was never given a reprieve by his team-mates, who failed to equalise in a frantic ending to the match.

Kaiserslautern’s win sees them climb into 12th and three points above relegation, while Moenchengladbach remain bottom and five points from safety.

Fri 18 March, 2011

Bundesliga: Moenchengladbach 0 Kaiserslautern 1

Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Logan Bailly’s own goal handed Kaiserslautern a 1-0 away win in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Kaiserslautern entered the match in good form, having unbeaten in three games, while Moenchengladbach had only lost one of their last four as they aim to try and escape the relegation zone.

But their hopes of survival took a dip with Bailly’s bizarre own goal, which came just after the hour mark.

The Belgian international conceded when he punched Christian Tiffert’s corner into the back of his own net and he was never given a reprieve by his team-mates, who failed to equalise in a frantic ending to the match.

Kaiserslautern’s win sees them climb into 12th and three points above relegation, while Moenchengladbach remain bottom and five points from safety.

Fri 18 March, 2011

Bundesliga: Cologne 4 Hannover 0

Lowly Cologne have dented Hannover’s Champions League hopes with a stunning 4-0 victory in Friday’s lone Bundesliga fixture.

Cologne, who were 11th on the table coming into their meeting at Rhein Energie Stadion, overran the visiting side and piled on three second-half goals, two to striker Milivoje Novakovic.

The Slovenian international has been enjoying a purple patch since February, scoring seven goals in six appearances for Cologne and also picking up the opener in his nation’s 2-1 friendly win over Albania.

Hannover, who could have risen to second on the table with three points, instead remain third on the table.

Their lead over fourth-placed Mainz could be reduced to a point if the latter can defeat Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Cologne, meanwhile, rise to 10th.

The hosts had threatened early but needed until the 36th minute to claim their opening goal, and it came from a set piece after Hannover defender Karim Haggui felled Lukas Podolski just outside the area.

Portuguese midfielder Petit blasted his free kick through the wall and past a blind-sighted Ron-Robert Zieler, the Hannover goalkeeper reacting late and seeing the ball fizz by to his left.

Podolski was looking dangerous and brought up his 11th goal of the season on the hour, the German international brought into play by a nice through ball and rounding Zieler wide before threading a nice finish inside the far post.

Novakovic had his first 19 minutes later on Slawomir Peszko’s assist, the Pole taking advantage of a Hannover turnover deep in their half and squirting a neat cross across the goalmouth for an easy finish.

And there was still time for Novakovic to nab his brace, the Slovenian rising above Jan Schlaudraff to nod substitute Adil Chilhi’s cross beyond Zieler in the 89th minute.

Fri 11 March, 2011

Bundesliga: Cologne 4 Hannover 0

Lowly Cologne have dented Hannover’s Champions League hopes with a stunning 4-0 victory in Friday’s lone Bundesliga fixture.

Cologne, who were 11th on the table coming into their meeting at Rhein Energie Stadion, overran the visiting side and piled on three second-half goals, two to striker Milivoje Novakovic.

The Slovenian international has been enjoying a purple patch since February, scoring seven goals in six appearances for Cologne and also picking up the opener in his nation’s 2-1 friendly win over Albania.

Hannover, who could have risen to second on the table with three points, instead remain third on the table.

Their lead over fourth-placed Mainz could be reduced to a point if the latter can defeat Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Cologne, meanwhile, rise to 10th.

The hosts had threatened early but needed until the 36th minute to claim their opening goal, and it came from a set piece after Hannover defender Karim Haggui felled Lukas Podolski just outside the area.

Portuguese midfielder Petit blasted his free kick through the wall and past a blind-sighted Ron-Robert Zieler, the Hannover goalkeeper reacting late and seeing the ball fizz by to his left.

Podolski was looking dangerous and brought up his 11th goal of the season on the hour, the German international brought into play by a nice through ball and rounding Zieler wide before threading a nice finish inside the far post.

Novakovic had his first 19 minutes later on Slawomir Peszko’s assist, the Pole taking advantage of a Hannover turnover deep in their half and squirting a neat cross across the goalmouth for an easy finish.

And there was still time for Novakovic to nab his brace, the Slovenian rising above Jan Schlaudraff to nod substitute Adil Chilhi’s cross beyond Zieler in the 89th minute.

Fri 11 March, 2011