Werder Bremen advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup after a highlight-filled 3-3 draw at Udinese Calcio. The Green-Whites’ 3-1 lead from the first leg was gone already in the first half...
Werder Bremen advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup after a highlight-filled 3-3 draw at Udinese Calcio. The Green-Whites’ 3-1 lead from the first leg was gone already in the first half...
Werder Bremen advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup after a highlight-filled 3-3 draw at Udinese Calcio. The Green-Whites’ 3-1 lead from the first leg was gone already in the first half as Gökhan Inler (15’) and Quagliarella (30’ and 38’) scored for the Italians. Diego had made it 1-1 in the 28th minute. Diego struck again after 60 minutes and then missed a penalty. But Claudio Pizarro secured the 3-3 draw with his tally in the 73rd, sending the Green-Whites into the semis.
Werder started the match highly concentrated but the hosts’ offensive push was rewarded after a quarter-hour as Gökhan Inler opened the scoring. Werder were unimpressed with the deficit and equalised after 28 minutes through Diego, who was given the green light to play shortly before the match. But Werder lost the momentum just 120 seconds later with Quagliarella looping a ball over Tim Wiese to make it 2-1 for Udinese. The striker doubled the lead seven minutes later, equalising the Green-Whites’ strong first leg result.
Thomas Schaaf’s team was clearly determined to score goals after the break. And Werder finally broke through again at the hour mark. Hugo Almeida struck the crossbar but Diego headed home the rebound to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Brazilian had a chance to even the game in the 73rd minute, but his penalty was stopped by Udinese keeper Handanovic, who had caused the penalty with his tackle on Diego. But Werder were able to celebrate after the ensuing corner as Pizarro hit home to make it 3-3. That was enough to send Bremen into the UEFA Cup semi-finals, where they will face off against fellow Bundesliga club Hamburg on 30 April and 7 May.
Udinese Calcio:
Handanovic − Zapata (84’ Obodo), Domizzi, Felipe, Pasquale − d’Agostino (83’ Isla), Inler, Asamoah − Alexis Sánchez (33’ Pepe), Floro Flores, Quagliarella
Werder Bremen:
Wiese − Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen (66’ Boenisch) − Frings, Tziolis, Özil, Diego (83’ Niemeyer) − Pizarro, Hugo Almeida (86’ Rosenberg); reserves: Vander, Baumann, Hunt, Prödl
Goals: 1-0 Inler (15’), 1-1 Diego (28’), 2-1 Quagliarella (30’), 3-1 Quagliarella (38’), 3-2 Diego (60’), 3-3 Pizarro (73’)
Yellow cards: Domizzi, Zapata, Handanovic, Inler, Asamoah − Hugo Almeida
Special occurrence: Handanovic stopped Diego penalty (73’)
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
Stadio Friuli: 25,000 spectators
