Bayer Leverkusen moved within touching distance of making German football history with their first Bundesliga title in the club's 96-year history.
They drubbed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Saturday and only needs to draw at Unterhaching next weekend to finally have their name engraved on Germany's most coveted trophy.
Reuters quoted Leverkusen Sports Director Rudi Voeller as saying "we will fight and be nervous for another 90 minutes and after that, the first title in the 96-year history of the club could be there."
Brazilian midfielder Emerson made a miraculous comeback after a month out with damaged knee tendons and delivered a superb pass to countryman Paulo Rink on 72 minutes for Leverkusen's third goal to kill the match.
It was Rink's 10th goal in 15 matches since returning from a stint in South America and Stefan Beinlich later made it 4-1 from the penalty spot.
Ulf Kirsten had put Leverkusen back in front after 56 minutes after Frankfurt's Thorsten Kracht had struck before the interval to cancel out Oliver Neuville's 10th-minute opener.
"Only once were we not careful and Frankfurt used it to equalize," Leverkusen striker Ulf Kirsten said.
"Otherwise we dominated them and didn't give them another shot on goal. We should really have tied things up in the first half."
Bayern Munich, eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in midweek, kept things alive in the title race with a comfortable 3-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld, sending Bielefeld back to the second division.
Brazilian Elber will miss next week's must-win game at home to Werder Bremen though because of suspension.
Second placed Bayern have 70 points - enough to give them the title a year ago - but Leverkusen are in the box seat with 73 and feeling comfortable about the job ahead of them.
"The team is confident, they know what they have to do and they will show it next week at Unterhaching," an unusually calm coach Christoph Daum said, adding that "we don't expect it to be easy there. We will play for a win it but would still be happy with just a draw."
A single point is enough for Leverkusen while Bayern must win at all costs against Werder Bremen, 4-0 winners over Duisburg Saturday, who are burning to avenge last week's demolition in the German Cup final - (several sources)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
