Werder Bremen had to accept their first defeat on the sixth match day of the season. Trainer Thomas Schaafs team went down at the hands of Borussia Mönchengladbach despite heavily dominating the first half and taking the lead through Jelle van Damme (21'). A second half lapse was to cost Werder dear as Gladbach equalised through Thomas Broich (53') before Frank Baumann put past his own keeper (60') and hand the home side all three points.
Thomas Schaaf made just one change to the side which beat Borussia Dortmund 3:2 at the weekend, bringing Jelle van Damme into his starting eleven to replace Christian Schulz.
Werder took control from the start in front of a 40,251 crowd at the Borussia-Park. Johan Micoud suddenly found himself with only Borussia keeper to beat after a through ball from Ivan Klasnic, but lifted his effore over both keeper and crossbar. Just two minutes later, Keller was again on hand to deny Miroslav Klose from close range.
Extreme pressure and Jell van Damme's first Bundesliga goal
As the trainer had wished for, Werder impressed a similar amount of pressure as they had against Dortmund on Saturday and controlled proceedings so that the home sides first chance came through a counter attack. Ex-Werder man Krisztian Lisztes set El Fakiri on his way but his cross was put wide of Andreas Reinkes goal by the head of Brazilian Kahé (18').
Then it was Werders turn again. From a Johan Micoud corner, Naldo failed to connect before Leon Andreasen, who had stolen away from his marker, turned his effore wide of the post. Two minutes later though, Jelle van Damme was on target. Torsten Frings was allowed to cross precisely, Jelle van Damme climbed higher than both Milan Fukal and Zé Antonio to head Werder into the lead and give the 21-year-old Belgian his first Bundesliga goal.
The lead goal mirrored the flow of the game with the visitors controlling the tie as they wished but it didn't change the fact that the Green-Whites continued to loose their direction against a shaky Gladbach team and looked a touch over played. Gladbach were almost on level terms by half time but Kahé couldn't make use of Lisztes' deflected shot and Andreas Reinke cleared the danger.
The game took a 180 degree swing in the second half. A totally different Gladbach side took to the pitch after the break and were rapidly rewarded for their attitude. Thomas Broich took on a pass from Marcell Jensen, turned Johan Micoud and placed his shot perfectly inside the post. Werder seemed to be suffering from shock and allowed their opponents too much space to play and combined with ease.
"Baumi's" own goal give Gladbach the lead
Then the Green-White were to have insult added to their injury: Marcell Jensen broke on the left and forced his way past Patrick Owomoyela before drilling the ball across the box. Bremen captain's attempt to turn the ball away for a corner suddenly became a nightmare as the ball beat Andi Reinke into the bottom left corner of the net - a bitter way to go behind. 2:1 to Gladbach.
The Green-Whites found a second wind and tried to force the issue with a final onslaught but it was all to no avail. With Bayern Munich having won 1:0 in Frankfurt, Werder Bremen now find themselves five points adrift of the German champions.
Johnnie Muldoon