Werder Bremen remain unstoppable in the Bundesliga as Thomas Schaaf’s team beat Hoffenheim 2-0 in front of 32,000 fans in sold-out Weser Stadium. The goals were scored by Claudio...
Werder Bremen remain unstoppable in the Bundesliga as Thomas Schaaf’s team beat Hoffenheim 2-0 in front of 32,000 fans in sold-out Weser Stadium. The goals were scored by Claudio...
Werder Bremen remain unstoppable in the Bundesliga as Thomas Schaaf’s team beat Hoffenheim 2-0 in front of 32,000 fans in sold-out Weser Stadium. The goals were scored by Claudio Pizarro and Per Mertesacker.
After a quiet start to the game the first highlight came in the 14th minute as referee Knut Kircher ruled that Bremen keeper Tim Wiese took down Maicosuel in the area. But Wiese stopped Carlos Eduardo’s penalty attempt, keeping his team in the game. And Werder went ahead in the 18th minute. Mesut Özil sent a corner into the box where Claudio Pizarro jumped the highest and headed into the far left corner.
Per Mertesacker doubled the advantage 2-0 just four minutes later, more or less deciding the game in Weser Stadium. Özil’s free kick into the box went off Andreas Ibertsberger’s thigh to Per Mertesacker, who poked the ball home, shocking the guests. Just after the half-hour mark, Özil could not control a dangerous ball in front of Hoffenheim keeper Timo Hildebrand as Werder went into the changing rooms ahead 2-0.
Hoffenheim came out of the break very motivated but the Werder defence stood excellent and compact, allowing very little for the guests. Substitute Markus Rosenberg twice had chances in the 69th minute to increase the advantage but could not convert. And seven minutes later Özil was stopped by Hildebrand, who also stopped Pizarro in the final minute. Bremen were rewarded for another strong performance with another important victory in the Bundesliga which leaves Schaaf’s team in fourth place after nine matches.
Werder Bremen: Wiese - Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Boenisch – Frings, Bargfrede (81’ Niemeyer), Hunt, Özil – Marin (53’ Rosenberg), Pizarro; reserves: Vander – Andersen, Moreno
Hoffenheim: Hildebrand – Beck (11’ Salihovic), Compper (46’ Ibisevic), Simunic, Eichner – Vorsah, Ibertsberger, Gustavo (77’ Vukcevic), Carlos Eduardo – Maicosuel, Obasi
Goals: 1-0 (18’) Pizarro, 2-0 (22’) Mertesacker
Yellow cards: Wiese, Pizarro, Bargfrede (all Werder)– Compper, Simunic, Salihovic, Vorsah, Gustavo, Obasi, Vukcevic (all Hoffenheim)
Referee: Knut Kircher (Rottenburg)
Weser Stadium: 33,916 spectators
