Rueters
Tuesday, October 24, 2000; 2:00 PM

BREMEN, Germany, Oct 24 – Werder Bremen of Germany crushed Belgian side Genk 4-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup second round tie on Tuesday despite being reduced to 10 men shortly before the break.

The home side were already 2-1 up when Brazilian striker Ailton was sent off for retaliating after being fouled in the 43rd minute.

Midfielder Fabian Ernst opened the scoring with a header in the 16th minute and 12 minutes later Austrian playmaker Andreas Herzog gave Werder a 2-0 lead, exploiting a blunder from Genk goalkeeper Jan Moons.

Striker Wesley Sonck reduced the arrears for the visitors with a deflected effort from inside the box in the 35th minute.

Frank Baumann made it 3-1 by heading home from a headed pass by fellow defender Mladen Krstajic in the 56th minute before Germany striker Marco Bode sealed victory in the 72nd minute.