the league's half-century existence got off to a perfect start, when South Korean international striker Son Heung-Min headed home a cross from Rafael van der Vaart to give them a 1-0 lead in just the second minute of play.

Neither team was able to convert for the next 43 minutes of play in Hamburg, but the second half started even more quickly than the first. Ivan Perisic, who had been given a rare start by Jürgen Klopp, rewarded the coach by striking a ball from the left corner of the box that sailed into the far corner just seconds after the restart. The Croatian looked as surprised as anybody in the park, indicating that his effort was actually an attempted cross that went so terribly right.

Hamburg, though, showed remarkablea close-range strike 15 minutes later for a final score of 2-0.

In the northern state of Lower Saxony, Bundesliga first-timers Greuer Fürth shocked coach Felix Magath's pricey Wolfsburg side by taking the lead in the 27th minute. Emanuel Pogatetz was charged with an own goal after losing a physical battle against the Fürth striker as the two entered the 16-yard box. Neither Pogatetz, who had the ball go into the net off his shoulder, nor goalkeeper Diego Benaglio looked particularly good on the play.

Olic gave Magath hope

Former Bayern striker Ivica Olic, though, gave Magath and his Wolves hope, pulling them level before the break, heading in a rebound from within the six-yard box in the 42nd minute. Fürth, however, kept Wolfsburg off the scoreboard for the rest of