2:1 in Basel : Werders Hopes Stll Alive For The Champions League

First Team
Thursday, 11.08.2005 / 12:31

Werder still have a shot at making the Champions League, but a distinctly smaller one!! Thomas Schaafs side lost 2:1 in their Champions League qualifying first leg tie in Basel on Wednesday night 2:1 (1:0).

Werder still have a shot at making the Champions League, but a distinctly smaller one!! Thomas Schaafs side lost 2:1 in their Champions League qualifying first leg tie in Basel on Wednesday night 2:1 (1:0).

 

29,000 fans crammed into the St. Jakob-Park saw a Werder side, captained by Torsten Frings in the absence of Frank Baumann, who couldn't find their way during the first 70 minutes, a disorderly group who were also missing the necessary bite needed in such games. The Hanseatic side rode their luck a number of times in the first half. Basels first chance came from a free-kick cross delivered by Mladen Petric which Boris Smiljanic put wide of Reinkes goal (12'). Christian Gross' eleven missed more chances through Scott Chipperfield (21') and Smiljanic (24') before David Degen gave them a deserved lead in the 28th minute. Andi Reinke blocked out a shot from Australien Chipperfield after a cross from Petric, the parried shot fell at the feet of Degen who slotted into the bottom corner with Werders defence reduced to mere onlookers.

 

Klasnic blows the chance to equalise

 

Bremen began to improve towards the end of the first half. Before Basel had gone in front, Tim Borowski cracked a shot to test the Basel framework (26'). Six minutes before the break Ivan Klasnic should have drawn the sides level when he got on the end of a Johan Micoud cross, but the Croatian striker met the ball with his left thigh rather than his right boot - typical of Werders display on the night.

 

Thomas Schaaf brought Christian Schulz to replace Jelle van Damme for the second half with the Belgian in danger of seeing red. Werder seemed livelier but were still missing as much concentration moving forward as they were at the back. Basel punished this again in the 52nd minute. Mladen Petric sent a long pass over the heads of the Werder defenders were Julio Hernan Rossi was left all alone. The Argentinian substitute broke away towards Reinke and slipped the ball all too easily through the onrushing keepers legs - 2:0 for the home side.

 

Klose snatches back some hope

 

Luckily for Werder, Miroslav Klose had not forgotten his goal touch, when, from out of nothing, the German international dragged Werder back into the tie. A Klasnic free-kick was blocked out by a basel defender but fell straight to Jurica Vranjes who passed on to Klose. Klose made one quick turn and buried home in the bottom left hand corner (73'). Werder were now in with a chance and could have equalised through Klasnic. The striker climbed to meet a corner but could only find keeper Zuberbühler who turned the effore away for a corner. A second Werder goal would have been rather undeserved on the night.

 

Still, Klose goal could prove to be very valuable. An extreme improvement in performance will be neccessary in a fortnight for the second leg at the Weser Stadium if Werder are to play a roll in Europes most soughtafter piece of silverware.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

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