Frankfurt fails again

BONN (UPI): Bayern Munich retained a comfortable four-point lead at the top of German soccer's First Division despite Tuesday's loss in Moenchengladbach, as main rival Eintracht Frankfurt went down 2-1 at home to Duisburg Wednesday.

Uwe Weidemann struck in the last minute for Duisburg, ending the host's hopes of closing the gap prior to the much anticipated duel with Munich in three day's time.

Bayern remained on 37 points from 29 matches. Frankfurt, which suffered a 1-0 home humiliation at the hands of at bottom-of-the- table Leipzig last weekend, ranks second on 33 points.

Leverkusen, Kaiserslautern, SC Karlsruhe and Duisburg also have 33 points. SV Hamburg, Cologne and Borussia Dortmund are on 32, as the race for UEFA Cup places remains wide open.

Weidemann had given Duisburg the lead in the 24th minute, but Frankfurt bounced back with a 76th minute equalizer by Ghanaian international Anthony Yeboah.

The host, which had blown a series of good chances in the first half, failed again when Maurizio Gaudino fired just late on and was brutally punished by Weidemann's second goal on a quick counter.

Leverkusen moved into third place with a 1-1 draw at Schalke. Dutchman Yuri Mulder gave Schalke a 41st minute lead and it was nearly 2-0 when Peter Sendscheid's 53rd-minute header hit the bar.

Ulf Kirsten hit the equalizer in the 74th minute, set up by a fine solo effort from fellow-striker Andreas Thom.

Karlsruhe held off struggling Dynamo Dresden with a 65th- minute effort by Heiko Bonan, while reigning champ Werder Bremen clinched its second win after the winter break, a lucky 3-2 success against over Freiburg which ended the match reduced to nine players.

Frank Neubarth scored a hat-trick for Werder, but Freiburg almost pulled out a draw despite the red cards for Altin Rraklli and Martin Spanring.

Results

Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt 1, MSV Duisburg 2 Schalke 1, Bayer Leverkusen 1 SC Karlsruhe 1, Dynamo Dresden 0 Werder Bremen 3, SC Freiburg 2 JP/SOCCER

Italian Cup 1st leg final Ancona 0, Sampdoria 0 Italian serie A Reggiana 2, Parma 0

Spanish league Albacete 2, Logrones 2 Barcelona 1, Rayo Vallecano 0 Osasuna 1, Tenerife 0 Oviedo 3, Athletic Bilbao 0 Real Madrid 2, Sporting Gijon 2 Real Sociedad 0, Valencia 0 Real Valladolid 0, Racing Santander 3 Real Zaragoza 1, Lleida 1 Sevilla 4, Celta Vigo 1

French league Saint Etienne 3, Lyon 0