Werder Bremen led Austria Vienna 2-0 after two goals by Claudio Pizarro but had to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw. Still, Thomas Schaaf’s Bremen side remained undefeated leaders of...
Werder Bremen led Austria Vienna 2-0 after two goals by Claudio Pizarro but had to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw. Still, Thomas Schaaf’s Bremen side remained undefeated leaders of...
Werder Bremen led Austria Vienna 2-0 after two goals by Claudio Pizarro but had to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw. Still, Thomas Schaaf’s Bremen side remained undefeated leaders of the UEFA Europa League Group L with seven points.
The more than 11,000 spectators at Franz Horr Stadium provided a good atmosphere in the German-Austrian showdown. But they had to watch as Werder jumped ahead after 19 minutes. Mesut Özil sent a free kick into the box and Claudio Pizarro struck a header for the 1-0 lead. Austria were initially shocked but had a series of chances around the half-hour mark. But Naldo blocked away a dangerous ball just in front of Joachim Standfest. Özil nearly doubled the advantage after 34 minutes but his shot after a fine pass from Philipp Bargfrede went just wide right. And Per Mertesacker struck a header off the left post just two minutes later as Bremen went into intermission with a deserved 1-0 lead.
Werder were again well concentrated early on after the break, going ahead 2-0 after 63 minutes on Pizarro’s second goal of the day. Jacek Bak wanted to head the ball back to his keeper. But Pizarro ran between Bak and his keeper, played the ball past Robert Almer and then slotted home. But the hosts pulled a goal back 10 minutes later as Emin Sulimani’s shot was deflected against a helpless Bremen keeper Tim Wiese from 18 yards. And Austria were the stronger team in the later stages and finally equalised three minutes before the final whistle. Sulimani crossed from the right side to Schumcher, whose header was too well placed for Wiese. And Bremen ended up giving up the lead for an unnecessary draw.
Austria Vienna: Almer - Standfest, J. Bak, Dragovic, Ortlechner - F. Klein (64’ Schumacher), Baumgartlinger (84’ Hattenberger), E. Sulimani - Junuzovic, Acimovic - Diabang
Werder Bremen: Wiese – Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Boenisch – Frings, Bargfrede (64’ Borowski), Hunt, Özil – Marin (59’ Rosenberg), Pizarro
Goals: 0-1 Pizarro (19’), 0-2 Pizarro (63’), 1-2 Sulimani (73’), 2-2 Schumacher (87’)
Yellow cards: Hunt, Boenisch, Mertesacker, Rosenberg
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
Franz Horr Stadium, Vienna: 11,200 spectators (sold-out)
