For the second consecutive season, Werder Bremen have qualified to take their place alongside the cream of Europes football clubs. The Green-Whites beat FC Basel 3:0 (0:0) in Wednesday nights second leg of their third round Champions League qualifier.
30,339 spectators at the Weser Stadium watched on in dismay as the 1,000 travelling fans disrupted proceedings just before kick-off, igniting several fireworks and smoke bombs. The excitedly awaited Werder for fireworks on the pitch were nowhere to be seen early on. Trainer Thomas Schaafs side experienced some teething problems and had difficulties breaking down a tightly packed Basel who prevented Werders every offensive move throughout the first half.
Basel without Gimenez, but with the better start
FC Basel, who, shortly before kick-off in a shock move, discontinued their contract with Argentinian striker Christian Gimenez on grounds of a proposed will to move to Olympique Marseille, had their first chance through Julio Rossi whose header landed directly in Andi Reinkes arms (13'). Werder were reduced to trying their luck from distance with shots from Baumann (13'), Frings (11') and Klasnic (22') but never really tested the Basel keeper. It took a half hour before the home team managed to create their first real chance. Miroslav Klose fed Ivan Klasnic who broke past two Swiss defenders in a minimal of space and got his shot away but the Basel keeper Pascal Zuberbühler was well positioned.
Micoud fluffs penalty
Eight minutes later, Klasnic was once again the cause of alarm in the Basel box. The Croatian striker broke free towards goal after a through ball from Johan Micoud but went down before he could shoot under the challenge from Reto Zanni. Klasnic and the vast majority of the crowd bayed for the whistle but referee Kim Milton Nielsen allowed play to go on. That was not to be the case in the 43rd minute. Klose launched a ball into the run of Torsten Frings who crumbled under yet another Zanni tackle but the result on this occasion was the experienced Danish referee pointing directly to the spot. Johan Micoud took on the responsibility but having sent the keeper the wrong way also slid the ball the wrong side of the post to complete an utterly unsatisfactory first half for the German club.
Thomas Schaaf made the decision in the break to bring Daniel Jensen in place of Frank Baumann and in doing so greatly increased Werders pressure going forward. The Green-Whites combined more effectively but yet again the guests had the greater chances to score. David Degen sliced his shot wide of the mark after a pin point pass from Matias Delgado (55') and shortly afterwards, Delgado crashed his free-kick effort against the angle of post and crossbar (62').
Werders relief; three goals in eight minutes
At the other end then, Werder eventually showed how it is done. Patrick Owomoyela passed to Klose who slid the ball across the box for Klasnic to knock it over the line and release some of the piling pressure on the hosts (65'). The lead appeared to totally free Werders abilities and now the damm was broken, the flood was free to begin. Three minutes later Zanni took a string liking to Johan Micouds jersey in the Basel box and once again Referee Nielsen was forced to point to the spot. This time Tim Borowski entrusted himself with the spot kick and placed his penalty perfectly into the bottom right corner (68'). Within in four more minutes Ivan Klasnic was to earn his 'Killer' title as he took on a Daniel Jensen pass to slam his shot home from 20 yards out, wide on the left inside the bottom right hand post. Werder were now all but through to take their place in Thursdays Champions League draw. In just over seven minutes Werder had sealed the deal.
The one blotch on Bremens clean sheet was to be the sending off of Miroslav Klose who picked up his second yellow card when he lashed the ball towards goal after the referee had blown for offside (79'). The extra man was not to be much help to an already exhauseted Basel side and the rest was to be a Green-White party.
Johnnie Muldoon
Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Naldo, Pasanen, Schulz - Frings, Baumann (46' D.Jensen), Borowski - Micoud (87' Vranjes) - Klasnic (73' Valdez), Klose
Trainer: Schaaf
FC Basel 1893: Zuberbühler - Zanni, Quennoz (69' Sterjovski), Smiljanic, Kleber - Degen, Ba, Delgado, Chipperfield - Eduardo, Rossi (81' Ergic)
Trainer: Gross
Goals: 1:0 Klasnic (65'), 2:0 Borowski (68' pen.), 3:0 Klasnic (72')
Referee: Nielsen (Denmark)
Attendance: Weser Stadium 30,339
Yellow Cards: Degen, Eduardo, Ba - Klose
Red Cards: Klose (79')