BONN VFB Stuttgart scored a convincing 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund as the German first division season opened on Friday. Stuttgart, crushed 4-0 by Bayern Munich in the German League Cup final last Saturday, expected a difficult start to their Bundesliga campaign. Striker Fredi Bobic criticized the club's recruitment policy this week, saying all the team could hope for was a place in the UEFA Cup. But the European Cup Winners' Cup finalists, now trained by Winfried Schaefer, looked promising, using two early goals to tame the 1997 European champions.

Defender Jens Keller, who joined from VFL Wolfsburg, opened the scoring after five minutes and Yugoslav midfielder Kristijan Djordjevic made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. With newcomer Thomas Haessler watching from the bench, Dortmund fought back with a goal in the 39th minute from Togolese striker Bachirou Salou, formerly with MSV Duisburg. New Dortmund Coach Michael Skibbe sent Haessler on in the second half but the international midfielder, who joined from relegated Karlsruhe SC, failed to figure and Stuttgart held on to their lead.

A fine performance by newcomer Thomas Hoersen helped MSV Duisburg beat promoted Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 earlier. Defender Hoersen, who joined from Borussia Moenchengladbach, set up striker Uwe Spies for the first goal of the new season in the 17th minute. Frankfurt, returning to the top flight with limited ambitions after a two-year spell in the second division, leveled eight minutes later through midfielder Thomas Sobotzik. Hoersen, who had never scored in 58 Bundesliga appearances, showed the composure of a seasoned striker to give Duisburg victory with a powerful shot from the edge of the box two minutes into the second half.

(Reuter)