Berlin, Sept 10: Sidney Sam scored twice as Bayer Leverkusen beat promoted Augsburg 4-1 to move provisionally top of the Bundesliga on Friday.
Sam replied for Leverkusen one minute after Japan midfielder Hajime Hosogai opened the scoring for Augsburg in the fifth minute.
Stefan Kiessling, who set up Sam's first goal, put Leverkusen ahead in the 23rd before Sam put the issue beyond doubt in the 72nd.
“We can play football and we've showed that the last four games,” Kiessling said.
Eren Derdiyok's goal in the 79th gave the scoreline a flattering look, tucking away a rebound after the ball fell kindly for the substitute from Simon Jentzsch's save.
A draw against Freiburg at home would be enough for Bayern Munich to reclaim top spot on Saturday.
Leverkusen—which opens its Champions League campaign at Chelsea on Tuesday—looked tired, with several of its players having been involved in internationals in midweek.
Augsburg capitalized on the visitors' sluggish start when Hosogai ghosted past Sam to meet Daniel Baier's cross at the back post.
“We invested a lot (in the game). We scored the first goal but conceded the equalizer much too early,” said Augsburg coach Jos Luhukay.
The home fans were still celebrating when Sam equalized 62 seconds later. Kiessling drew the defense before spotting Sam's run and his perfectly timed cross left the midfielder to pick his spot.
Renato Augusto created Leverkusen's second when he split the defense with a ball between Jonas de Roeck and Gibril Sankoh for Kiessling to sweep past Jentzsch.
Daniel Schwaab was lucky to escape with a yellow card for taking out Sascha Moelders on the edge of the area in the 25th, when the Augsburg striker was through on goal.
“It's quite clearly a red card,” Luhukay said.
His Leverkusen counterpart Robin Dutt agreed. “We couldn't complain if a red card had been given,” he acknowledged.
Michael Ballack, who made a rare start for Leverkusen, was eager to impress before Tuesday's trip to his former club. He was booked for a needless foul in the 28th, had an indirect free kick blocked in the 37th, and fired a wild shot high and wide a minute later.
“I was very happy with him,” said Dutt, who refused to reveal whether Ballack would start against Chelsea. “He ran a lot and played a good game ... A lot of players are fit for Tuesday.”
Moelders should have done better at the other end, when he was unable to keep his shot on target after a great cross from Baier in the 39th.
Tobias Werner drew a fingertip save from the impressive Bernd Leno after the break, when there were chances at either end.
Ballack had two more attempts before Robin Dutt took him off for Andre Schuerrle with 30 minutes remaining, and Schuerrle shot narrowly wide shortly afterward.
Axel Bellinghausen and Hosogai both went close, before Leverkusen scored against the run of play.
Gonzalo Castro eluded Bellinghausen with a clever trick and found Sam in space, leaving the 23-year-old to curl the ball beyond Jentzsch, before Derdiyok's goal switched attention to Tuesday.
“Of course I'm looking forward to it. The Champions League is always a dream for any player,” said Sam. “It's fun. Simply brilliant.”
Leverkusen has 10 points from five matches and leads the Bundesliga by a point from Bayern Munich and Schalke. A handful of other teams could also claim top spot depending on results Saturday and Sunday. AP
