Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen moved up to fourth in the Bundesliga yesterday with a 3-2 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Despite having midfielder Simon Rolfes sent off, Leverkusen took the three points to move into fourth. They took the lead through a goal by midfielder Sidney Sam, but Fortuna levelled on 40 minutes after a header by Nando Rafael.
But the visitors stayed level for barely a minute as Andre Schuerrle put the hosts ahead at half-time after he followed up from a super cross from Sam.
Leverkusen then lost Rolfes, who came on for Sam on 63 minutes, just 120 seconds later as he threw himself into a reckless tackle on Adam Bodzek.
Bayer responded immediately as right-back Daniel Carvajal squared to give Gonzalo Castro the simplest of tap-ins on 67 minutes.
Bodzek pulled one back for the visitors with a superb strike on 86 minutes, but it was too little, too late.
Bundesliga
B. Leverkusen vs F. Dusseldorf 3-2; Werder Bremen vs Mainz 2-1.
Leading standings: B. Munich 27; Schalke, E. Frankfurt 20; B. Leverkusen 18; B. Dortmund 16; Hanover, Werder Bremen, Mainz 14; Hamburg 13.