Two header goals by Claudio Pizarro in the second half helped Werder Bremen complete a mini-miracle by coming back from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw at AC Milan, sending Bremen to the UEFA Cup Round of 16...
Two header goals by Claudio Pizarro in the second half helped Werder Bremen complete a mini-miracle by coming back from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw at AC Milan, sending Bremen to the UEFA Cup Round of 16...
Two header goals by Claudio Pizarro in the second half helped Werder Bremen complete a mini-miracle by coming back from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw at AC Milan, sending Bremen to the UEFA Cup Round of 16. After a 1-1 result in the first leg, Bremen advanced 3-3 on aggregate on the away goals rule. Andrea Pirlo (26’ hand ball penalty) and Alexandre Pato (33’) shocked Thomas Schaaf’s team in the first half. But in the end, it was the Green-Whites celebrating.
Werder started the game very strong and was the better side but unable to take advantage of a 5-1 advantage on shots on goal in the first quarter-hour. And Milan struck back showing nerves of steel with a double strike. First it was Pirlo converting a penalty in the 26th minute after Torsten Frings was charged with a handball in the area. Just seven minutes later, Pato doubled the lead with a shot from 18 yards. And it remained 2-0 at the break.
Little changed in the second half as Werder were still the more aggressive team – though unable to create much trouble in front of the Milan goal. But that all changed in the 68th minute as Diego sent a free kick into the area and Pizarro nodded home to make it just 2-1. Werder knew they were just one goal from advancing and increased their pressure once again – with success. Pizarro was once again in the right place 11 minutes from time, hitting home his second header to complete the mini-miracle from Milan. The 2-2 draw was completely deserved as was the advancement to the UEFA Cup Round of 16. Now it’s a Green-White celebration.
The game at a glance:
AC Mailand: Dida - Zambrotta, Senderos, Maldini, Favalli (77' Jankulovski) - Beckham, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (54' Flamini)- Pato, Inzaghi
Werder Bremen: Vander - Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen (67' Boenisch) - Frings, Tziolis, Özil (90' Jensen), Diego - Almeida (61' Rosenberg), Pizarro
Goals: 1-0 Pirlo (26'/penalty), 2-0 Pato (33'), 2-1 Pizarro (68'), 2-2 Pizarro (78')
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Attendance: 24,000 (Giuseppe-Meazza-Stadium)
