Werder Bremen played out a spectacular 3-3 (0-0) draw with Borussia Dortmund on the eight match day of the season. Alexander Frei (59’/pen), Mats Hummels (72’) and Mohamed Zidan (92‘) were on target for the visitors, whilst...
Werder Bremen played out a spectacular 3-3 (0-0) draw with Borussia Dortmund on the eight match day of the season. Alexander Frei (59’/pen), Mats Hummels (72’) and Mohamed Zidan (92‘) were on target for the visitors, whilst...
Werder Bremen played out a spectacular 3-3 (0-0) draw with Borussia Dortmund on the eight match day of the season. Alexander Frei (59’/pen), Mats Hummels (72’) and Mohamed Zidan (92‘) were on target for the visitors, whilst Frank Baumann (68’) and Claudio Pizarro (88’/91’) did the scoring for the Green-Whites.
Werder had more of the play and possession in the first half but failed to turn their obvious optical advantage into goals. In the Green-Whites 1,500th Bundesliga game, it was the hosts who were to have the first real chance of the match. From seemingly out of nowhere, Jakub Blaszczykowski emerged alone in front of Tim Wiese, but the keeper cleared with a stunning reflex save after captain Frank Baumann had previously cleared the ball from the goal line (25’).
In his 50th Bundesliga game, German U21 international Mesut Özil was the one causing BVB problems. The talented young winger brought the best out of Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller with a shot from 14 meters out (35’). It was an entertaining first 45 minutes but one which was ultimately to prove goal-less.
Mesut Özil was to be the first player to get a sight of the opposing goal after the break too. The midfielder’s free-kick in the 47th minute again forced a save from Weidenfeller. Just a minute later, Özil broke away again, but this time his effort from 14 meters out was blocked away by Nevan Subotic. As is so often the case, when chances are not taken at one end, they tend to be converted at the other. BVB were awarded a penalty following a foul by Frank Baumann on Sebastian Kehl and Alexander Frei stepped up and hammered home the spot-kick to put the visitors in front (59’).
It was a setback for the Green-Whites, but only a minor one, and just nine minutes later they were back on level terms. Boenisch put a well weighted delivery into the BVB penalty area and Werder captain Frank Baumann flicked the ball home with a glancing header to even the scores. Just minutes later though, the Black and Yellows were in front again, as Mats Hummels combined with Blaszczkowski to make it 2-1 for Dortmund (72’).
The closing minutes of the tie were to prove unforgettable. Firstly Pizarro scored a stunning close-range brace (88’/91’) to turn the tie in Bremen’s favour for the first time on the day, but with the Green-White fateful baying for the final whistle, Dortmund hit back to with a last gasp equaliser. Wiese got both fists to a cross from the left but could only deflect the ball into the path of the on-rushing Zidan, who drilled home from 12 meters out to make the final score 3-3.
The game at a glance:
Werder Bremen: Wiese - Pasanen (64' Boenisch), Naldo, Baumann, Fritz, Diego, Özil, Sanogo (64' Almeida), Jensen (59' Hunt), Frings, Pizarro
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Lee, Subotic, Kehl, Kringe, Tinga, Valdez (79' Klimowicz), Frei (64' Zidan), Blaszczykowski, Kovac (52' Hummels), Schmelzer
Goals: 0-1 Frei (59'/penalty), 1-1 Baumann (68'), 1-2 Hummels (72'), 2-2 Pizarro (88'), 3-2 Pizarro (91'), 3-3 Zidan (92')
Attendance: 42,100 (Weser-Stadion)
