Bayern closer to title

BERLIN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- German Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich went closer to the title on Sunday with a home win against Bochum while Borussia Dortmund beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to end their winless run of five matches.

Ten-man Bayern came from behind to beat Bochum 3-1 and open up a nine-point lead in the run for the Bundesliga title.

Bayern seemingly faced an uphill task after Bochum's Mimoun Azaouagh scored in the 4th minute

More than 69,000 fans in the sold-out Allianz Arena were stunned when Azaouagh opened the scoring with a sensational strikeinto the top corner from 24 meters out.

The fans were even shocked when Bayern's Dutch midfield Mark van Bommel was sent off for two bookable offenses in the 24th minute.

However, the sending-off of acted as a wake-up call for the Bundesliga leaders, and Lucio's header from Bastian Schweinsteiger's free-kick leveled matters four minutes later.

Despite being a man up, Bochum created little from then on. Bayern increased the pressure and Miroslav Klose replaced the ineffective Lukas Podolski midway through the second half.

In the 73rd minute, Bochum's Marc Pfertzel handed the ball and French midfielder Franck Ribery coolly converted the resulting penalty to send Bayern on their way to victory.

In the 88th minute, however, Christian Lell settled the win from Miroslav Klose's lovely back-heel assist.

With the home victory, Bayern are one step closer to their 21sttitle of German top soccer league.

Bayern are now nine points ahead of Bundesliga runner-up FC Schalke 04 with seven games left.

In another match on Sunday, Dortmund have ended their winless run of five matches to hand Bayer Leverkusen their third straight defeat.

Alexander Frei in the 87th minute and Dede deep into injury time turned the match around for Dortmund after Stefan Kiessling'sopener for Bayer in the 51st minute.

The first half was rather uneventful before a blunder from Dortmund goalkeeper Marc Ziegler handed Kiessling the opener on a plate.

Substitute Alexander Frei nearly equalized for Dortmund after 78 minutes when his free-kick hit the post.

But the Swiss international was not to be denied, and he finally bagged his first of the season with an unstoppable volley nine minutes later.

And Dede even came up with a winner in injury time when his left-footed shot through a crowded penalty area went through Bayerkeeper Rene Adler's leg and into the back of the net.