Bundesliga, Matchday 2: Bayer Leverkusen Gets Late Winner On Sunday

Bayer Leverkusen were facing a start to the season of two matches and just one point. That would have been a disaster, especially with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich dropping points in the early going to open a window for them. Then Bayer found a late goal to down Werder Bremen and put them on three points, mid table, but right in the thick of it with the other top contenders. A title cannot be won in the first weeks of the season, but it can be lost and Bayer did enough to make sure they weren’t on the verge of losing it before August came to an end.

Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Werder Bremen

Apparently Michael Ballack is still alive because he got a surprise start for Leverkusen and he was like most players on both teams, underwhelming. The match was ugly for long stretches and was not going to turn any non-believers into football fans. Michal Kadlec made sure that the Leverkusen supporters would remember the match for its result and not it’s ugly play when he snapped a header five minutes from time. It was saved, but it came right back to him and he knocked home the rebound to earn Leverkusen the win.

Kaiserslautern 1-1 FC Augsberg

Two matches into the season and Bundesliga new boys have yet to lose. Not a bad start for Augsberg after they picked up their second draw of the campaign against Kaiserslautern. They were first on the board when new signing Sascha Molders was able to turn and fire low for the opening goal just nine minutes into the match. Florian Dick kept Kaiserslautern from faling further behind when he cleared a ball off the line. That proved crucial when Etey Shechter found the net 10 minutes from time to earn the home side a point.