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Wolfsburg bag first German title
Record scorers Grafite and Dzeko on target as Wolfsburg lift trophy with 5-1 win.
Last Modified: 23 May 2009 19:42 GMT

Grafite lifts the title after breaking Bundesliga scoring records [AFP]
Fans poured onto the pitch as VfL Wolfsburg won their first German Bundesliga title with a 5-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen.

Holding a precious two-point advantage over closest rivals Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg ensured nerves would not be an issue as they roared into a 3-0 lead through Zvjezdan Misimovic, Grafite and an own goal from Sebastian Proedl.

Werder pulled one back through Diego before Grafite and Edin Dzeko sealed the title with two second half goals before the fans rushed on to hug the players and coach Felix Magath.

"It is a dream come true," Magath, who will be leaving to join Schalke next season, told Premiere.

"Before the season started I never thought we had a chance to win the championship.

"It is hard to be leaving now, obviously," added a soaking Magath, who led Bayern Munich to successive league and cup doubles before being sacked by the Bavarians.

"I am not quite dry. We were in the locker room and there was quite a bit of champagne flying through the air."

More than 30,000 fans in the stands and on the pitch broke into songs when captain Josue lifted the Bundesliga shield to a clear blue sky.

History boys

Wolfsburg became the first team in the history of the Bundesliga to have two strikers score 20 goals or more in one season, with Grafite netting 28 times and Bosnian Dzeko 26.

"It is just insane," said Dzeko.

"It is great feeling to be German champions. I did not think it was possible to win it in only my second year in Germany.

"We are going to do a lot of celebrating."

Bayern, who needed a slip-up by Wolfsburg to have any chance, managed to hold on to a 2-1 win against Stuttgart after an own goal by Khalid Boulahrouz and one from captain Mark van Bommel had put them in the lead.

Mario Gomez pulled one back.

Mission accomplished

"We won four matches and had one draw. I think I fulfilled my mission," said interim Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, hired to salvage Champions League qualification after Juergen Klinsmann was sacked in late April.

"It is just a shame that we could not win the championship.

"This team has so much potential. Normally a team this good should win the title."

Stuttgart will go into Champions League qualifying, while Hertha Berlin and Hamburg SV will play in the new Europa League.

Arminia Bielefeld and Karlsruhe were relegated while Energie Cottbus will play a relegation play-off with the third best team of the second division.

Source:
Agencies
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