BERLIN: Visiting Bayer Leverkusen downed Augsburg 3-1 with Karim Bellarabi scoring the German football Bundesliga’s 50,000th goal and Javier Hernandez bagging a brace on Friday. Bellarabi’s landmark goal came when he opened the scoring in the 23rd minute for the Germany striker to go once again into the Bundesliga record books. In 2014 he scored the Bundesliga’s fastest-ever goal in nine seconds against Borussia Dortmund, a time matched by Kevin Volland the following season when then playing for Hoffenheim. “I wasn’t giving the (50,000th) goal much thought before the game and wasn’t thinking about it during the game, but I am all the more delighted to have scored it,” Bellarabi told Sky television.
“I am delighted we got the three points.” Leverkusen move to eighth on 30 points while Augsburg stay in the lower half of the table on 24 points after a second straight defeat. Koo Ja Cheol went close for the home side with a shot across goal narrowly wide of the far post before Bellarabi put Leverkusen infront. The Germany striker met a low cross from 17-year-old Kai Havertz to finish in the 23rd minute with a first-time shot just outside the six-yard box. The 50,000th goal has come more than 53 years after Timo Konietzka scored the Bundesliga’s first when he netted for Borussia Dortmund in a 3-2 defeat against Werder Bremen on August 24, 1963.
Bellarabi went close to a second with a volley which keeper Marwin Hitz did well to keep out, while Koo at the other end was foiled by Bernd Leno. Hitz though had no chance when Hernandez found himself in front of goal with time to delay and measure his shot five minutes before half-time. The home side came out stronger after the break and Leno managed to foil Raul Bobadilla when through on goal before Koo set up Kohr to score just after the hour. But Roger Schmidt’s side responded four minutes later when Havertzfed Hernandez whose shot came back off Hitz, with the striker then managingto hurdle the keeper to finish. On Saturday, leaders Bayern Munich visit Hertha Berlin, while second-placed Leipzig are in action Sunday at Borussia Moenchengladbach. — DPA
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