Werder Stumble In Derby Thriller

First Team
Sunday, 09.12.2007 / 11:13

Once again, Werder Bremen were at the centre of another Bundeliga spectacle – but this time finished on the wrong end of 3:4 (2:3) defeat in Hanover.

Once again, Werder Bremen were at the centre of another Bundeliga spectacle – but this time finished on the wrong end of 3:4 (2:3) defeat in Hanover. The home side proved stunningly effective with Mike Hanke scoring three and providing the delivery which led to Frank Baumann’s cruel own goal. Werder had taken the lead early on through Markus Rosenberg but then amazingly conceded three goals in just nine minutes. Diego hammered home from the spot and Markus Rosenberg struck again to pull Werder back level but some sloppy defending allowed the home side in again and cost Werder at least a share of the spoils. To add to their problems, referee Wolfgang Stark brandished the red card for substitute Hugo Almeida for violent conduct and the Portuguese can expect a stint on the terraces.

 

Werder coach Thomas Schaaf made just one change to the eleven which started in last weekend’s 2:1 win over HSV with Tim Wiese returning between the posts at the expense of Christian Vander. The hosts opted for Thomas Kleine, Gaetan Krebs and Michael tarnat in place of Frank Fahrenhorst, Altin Lala and Benjamin Lauth from the outset.

 

Four goals in eleven wild minutes

 

The opening ten minutes of the game saw both sides take something of a cautious approach but then a very special football game broke out. It was the Green-Whites who got the ball rolling, so to speak. Naldo won the ball against Pinto at the back and played to Jurica Vranjes who in turn passed on to Daniel Jensen. The Dane put striker Markus Rosenberg on his way with an inch perfect pass and the Swede kept his cool to slide the ball past the advancing Robert Enke to make it 1:0 to the visitors. The Werder joy was short lived though as a dubious free-kick from Szabols Huszti led to the equaliser for 96. A long hit free kick fell to M;ichael tarnat who chipped the stranded Tim Wiese and Mike Hanke sprang acrobatically to touch the ball over the line.

 

With twenty minutes played, the Bundesliga’s second placed side found themselves behind. Per Mertesacker launched a ball forward but found no takers and Hanover began a speedy counter attack. Christian Schulz put Mike Hanke free down the left and the strikers cross found the knee of Frank Baumann whose attempted clearance ended in the back of his own net. Just a minute later the AWD-Arena erupted again as a 60 meter Tarnat pass eluded Mertesacker and Hanke slipped in to snatch his second of the day. Bitter for Werder, the move began with a clear foul on Boubacar Sanogo in the opposite box which should have brought a penalty for Thomas Schaaf’s side.

 

Werder battle back

 

To be fair to the hosts, their lead was not an undeserved one as they were the more active and determined of the two sides. Werder had problems in the centre with Diego failing to produce on the day and far too many attempted passes from his colleagues landing at the feet of their opponents. Hanover went generally for the direct option, looking for a weakness on Werder’s right side.

 

The visitors took the upper hand again towards the end of the first half with unconvincing efforts from Naldo (29’) and Diego (30’) as well as a much better opening for Sanogo with a header from corner which the Ivory Coast international failed to get enough power on to test the keeper (38’). Werder’s brave efforts were rewarded before the break as Vinicius tore down Rosenberg ans Stark blew for a penalty. Diego took on the spot kick and buried the first into the right corner but had his strike cancelled out for encroachment. At the second time of asking, the Brazilian shot to the left and made it 2:3 for H96 going into the break.

 

Mertesacker’s flu symptoms forced him out at half time and he was replaced by Aaron Hunt who played on the left side of midfield with Daniel Jensen dropping back to the defensive midfield position and Frank Baumann taking the centre half role. The Green-Whites atarted well and there was an early shout for another penalty with Naldo going down under a challenge from Enke but Stark was not impressed and waved the appeals away. Soon after though, the visitors were back on level terms. Darko Tosic put in a low cross from the left and Rosenberg got ahead of his marker to toe poke Werder’s third – 3:3. Schaaf’s men deserved to level at least and could have had more from a deflected Tosic (55’) effort and a Sanogo (56’) header.

 

Chances at one end, goals at the other

 

The game slumped as a contest with the only impulses at all coming from some half chances for Werder. Aaron Hunt was too inconclusive (67’) and Diego saw Enke pluck his cross easily from the sky (74’). The Hanover keeper was forced to make a stunning, sprawling save from Rosenberg after Tosic and Hunt combined to set up the Swede. Tim Wiese had less chances to prove his ability with most Hanover efforts ending up in the back of his net – as was the case with the deciding goals. Again it was a broken down Werder attack which began the match winning move. Michael Tarnat found sub Jiri Stajner who lashed into the centre where an unmarked Mike Hanke made it 4:3.

 

Werder threw Tim Borowski and Hugo Almeida into the fray in search of an equaliser but it was the home side who had the chances. Pinto hammered over from close range and Stajner couldn’t beat Wiese very later on. With frustration doing the rounds, Hugo Almeida lost his cool and shoved Huszti to the ground and Stark produced the red card for the Portuguese striker. A dramatic match ended ni a bitter defeat for Werder on a day which could have seen them leapfrog Bayern to take top spot.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

 

 

Hanover 96 - Werder Bremen 4:3

 

Hannover 96: Enke – Cherundolo, Vinicius, Kleine, Tarnat – Balitsch (72. Rosenthal), Schulz – Krebs (69. Stajner), Pinto (85. Hashemian), Huszti – Hanke

 

Werder Bremen: Wiese – Pasanen, Mertesacker (46. Hunt), Naldo, Tošić – Baumann, Vranjes (78. Borowski), Jensen, Diego – Rosenberg, Sanogo (80. Hugo Almeida); on the bench: Vander, Carlos Alberto, Andreasen, Klasnic

 

Yellow cards: Vinicius, Balitsch – Rosenberg, Pasanen, Jensen, Hunt, Borowski, Naldo

 

Red card: Hugo Almeida

 

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Ergolding)

 

Attendance: AWD-Arena: 49.000

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