BERLIN — Bayer Leverkusen's 3-0 win over Hamburg Saturday trimmed Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga table, but the Bavarian giant will still finish 2012 with a nine-point lead. After Bayern was held 1-1 at home by Borussia Moenchengladbach Friday, second-placed Leverkusen enjoyed a comfortable win over Hamburg with ex-Germany striker Stefan Kiessling and current German star Andre Schuerrle both netting. Kiessling opened the scoring on 26 minutes when his close-range shot gave the Hamburg defence no chance and the hosts doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Schuerrle netted as the ball went in off the post. Kiessling claimed his 12th goal in 17 games this season to make him the Bundesliga's top scorer when he latched onto a clearance from Bayer goalkeeper Bernd Leno and drilled home his second on 66 minutes. With defending champion Dortmund at strugglers Hoffenheim Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt took the chance to claim third spot with a 2-0 win over ten-man Wolfsburg. Frankfurt took the lead after only 12 minutes when captain Alexander Meier scored his 11th goal of the season. Wolves were reduced to 10 men when Brazil midfielder Josue was shown a straight red on 16 minutes for going into a challenge on Canada's Olivier Occean with his studs up. Frankfurt took the chance to double their lead two minutes later when Japan midfielder Takashi Inui converted Stefan Aigner's pass after the offside flag stayed down. Mainz moved up to fifth after coming from behind to beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 with midfielder Nicolai Mueller scoring its second-half goals before Colombia midfielder Elkin Soto grabbed the third in the 92nd minute. Duesseldorf's Denmark midfielder Ken Ilso drilled home an 83rd minute free-kick to seal Fortuna's 2-1 win over Hanover 96. Greuther Fuerth remains rooted to the bottom of the table after it drew 1-1 at Bavarian neighbors in a high-tension affair as both sides finished with 10 men. — Agencies
