They had to be patient for quite some time but Werder Bremen’s 3:0 win over Maccabi Netanya in Schruns was never threatened at any point on the day that Markus Rosenberg and Hugo Almeida finally linked up together again to form the Green-White’s front line. With less than half an hour played against last season’s Israeli league runner-up, Maccabi Netanya, the Werder striking duo had already effectively decided the tie. Swedish international Markus Rosenberg put the Green-Whites in front with a wonderfully executed strike (16’) and in the 25th minute, Hugo Almeida doubled the lead with a typical poacher’s goal.
Daniel Jensen made it 3-0 for Werder before the break with a spot kick which he neatly chipped centrally to fox the Maccabi goalkeeper (35’). Initially the keeper, Liran Strauber, had denied the Danish international but referee, Mario Strudl, called for the penalty to be retaken due to encroachment in the penalty area by a number of players. The second period was decidedly less attractive but Thomas Schaaf’s men maintained their composure to hold on to their three goal lead. Over the 90 minutes, the side from former German international Lothar Matthäus managed little more than a few uninspiring ventures toward the Werder goal.
On Monday, 28.07.2008, Werder will play their next pre-season friendly against a much tougher opponent in the form of FC St. Gallen (kick-off 8pm).
Werder Bremen:
Vander - Boenisch (46‘ Tosic), Naldo (46‘ Prödl), Andersen, Pasanen - Vranjes, Niemeyer (46‘ Baumann), Jensen (46‘ Özil), Hunt (46‘ Harnik) - Rosenberg, Almeida (46‘ Sanogo)
Maccabi Netanya:
Strauber - Saban, Marin, Samia (65’ Hajimovic), Ben Dayan - Bevin (85’ Hermon), Cohen (65’ Gazal), Yampulski (83’ Tazemeta), Masudi, Menashe (65’ Okocha) - Kioyo
Goals: 0:1 Rosenberg (16’), 0:2 Almeida (25’), 0:3 Jensen (35’)
Yellow cards: Cohen, Saban
Referee: Mario Strudl (Austria)
Attendance: ‘Sportanlage Wagenweg’: 1,500