Werder clinch UEFA Cup spot!

First Team
Tuesday, 09.12.2008 / 23:18

On the sixth and final match day in the UEFA Champions League group phase, Werder Bremen beat Inter Milan 2-1 (0-0) and secured themselves a place amongst the last 32 sides in the UEFA Cup...

On the sixth and final match day in the UEFA Champions League group phase, Werder Bremen beat Inter Milan 2-1 (0-0) and secured themselves a place amongst the last 32 sides in the UEFA Cup. Claudio Pizarro (63’) and Markus Rosenberg (81’) put the Green-Whites 2-0 up before Zlatan Ibrahimovic reduced the deficit late on (88’).

 

The early phases of the game were clearly controlled by Werder. The Green-Whites bravely looked to attack whilst Inter initially reduced their efforts to their defensive duties. The crowd at the Weser Stadium saw the first chance of the game fall to the home side after ten minutes, but Inter keeper Julio Cesar was able to deal with the shot by Torsten Frings.

 

As the half progressed, the visitors began to get a grip on their opponents and broke down Werder attacks before they could become threatening. Despite improvements, the Italian league leaders only managed to create just one chance during the first half. In the 34th minute, Maicon took a quick free-kick and found Ricardo Quaresma, whose shot from 15 meters out landed too far right of the mark. Werder were then out of luck themselves shortly before the break. Claudio Pizarro rose to meet a Torsten Frings corner, but the Peruvians powerful header was turned away by Cesar in the Inter goal (44’) and the teams went in at the break still at 0-0.

 

Both sides approached the second period more offensively and the result was a number of chances at both ends. With just a minute of the second half played, Markus Rosenberg came close with a shot from 16 meters out, whilst at the other end, Clemens Fritz was alert on his goal-line to clear a header from Nicolas Burdisso (55’). Soon after, the home side finally made their breakthrough. From 23 meters out Mesut Özil hit a powerful drive, which proved too hot for Cesar to handle and Claudio Pizarro reacted quickest to slot the loose ball home and make it 1-0 for the Green-Whites.

 

The goal did the game good and inspired both sides to take a more attacking approach. In the 81st minute, it looked as though the game was done and dusted when Markus Rosenberg finished a move, started by Aaront Hunt and Mesut Özil, to make it 2-0. With the points looking secured, Zlatan Ibrahimovic then reduced the deficit late on. The Swedish international hammered in a shot from 23 meters out, which went in off the inside of the post, to make the score-line 2-1 and create a tense finish. In the end though, the Green-Whites held on to their narrow, but deserved, lead and guaranteed themselves a place in the latter stages of the UEFA Cup.

 

 

The game at a glance:

 

Werder Bremen: Wiese – Fritz, Mertesacker, Prödl, Boenisch – Frings, Vranjes (89‘ Niemeyer), Hunt, Özil (90‘+2‘ Jensen) – Rosenberg, Pizarro.

 

Inter Milan: Cesar – Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi (46’ Maxwell), Zanetti – Cambiasso, Muntari (71’ Balotelli), Burdisso – Mancini, Adriano (46’ Ibrahimovic), Quaresma.

 

Goals: 1-0 Pizarro (63‘), 2-0 Rosenberg (81‘), 2-1 Ibrahimovic (88‘)

 

Yellow cards: Frings, Fritz

 

Referee: Pieter Vink (Netherlands)

 

Attendance: 35,000 (Weser-Stadion)

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