Werders Late Rally Levels Berlin

First Team
Sunday, 02.10.2005 / 09:57

A late burst on the eight match day of the season was just enough to beat Hertha BSC Berlin 2:1. Tim Borowski (85') and Nelson Valdez (89') turned the game on its head late on after Dardai had given the home side the lead (48'). Werder left the capital with three "Big Points" under their belt when it seemed they would make the journey back north empty handed.

A late burst on the eight match day of the season was just enough to beat Hertha BSC Berlin 2:1. Tim Borowski (85') and Nelson Valdez (89') turned the game on its head late on after Dardai had given the home side the lead (48'). Werder left the capital with three "Big Points" under their belt when it seemed they would make the journey back north empty handed.

 

Trainer Thomas Schaaf made two changes to the side which lost 2:1 in Athens during the week. Jurica Vranjes started in the midfield as captain Frank Baumann filled the centre half position left free by Leon Andreasen (thigh problem). Nelson Valdez partnered Ivan Klasnic up front after Miroslav Klose came down with flu and had to miss out.

 

Valdez misses early chance

 

Werder made the better start and impressed with their usual brand of flowing combination football. Tim Borowski drove a hammer from 23 meters after 17 minutes but was denied his celebrations by a brilliant Christian Fiedler save. Two minutes later Nelson Valdez broke on the right and pulled a cross from the by-line back across the box to Christian Schulz who swung with his weaker right foot but failed to make proper contact. At the other end Marcelinho had Berlins first chance. The Brazilian met a cross from Malik Fathi but couldn't control his header and well cleared the crossbar (20').

 

The visitors though did have the best opportunity of the first half. From a Tim Borowski pass, Johan Micoud extended the ball to Valdez who tried his luck but again Fiedler in the Hertha goal reacted quickly to deny the Paraguayean (27'). The hosts couldn't have complained about a half time defeceit with Werder finding plenty of space to play football in an intensive first half.

 

Dardai pounces on Pantelics' post prang

 

The scene was different after the break. The home side upped the tempo and were rewarded for their efforts after just two second half minutes. Torsten Frings lost the ball to Bastürk in the midfield and the little Turk powered forward to the edge of the box before finding Pantelic who could only smack his effort off the post. The ball riccocheted back into play where Pal Dardai rudhed on to place his shot into the gaping net. Ivan Klasnic almost had the perfect answer after a Frings cross but on the whole Werder were now allowing Hertha far too much of the play and were lucky to have referee Lutz Wagner disallow a second Hertha goal through Marko Pentalic for off-side. The Green-Whites were on the positive side of a refereeing decision again soon after as Andi Reinke appeared to bring down Bastürk after he was set free by Marcelinho but much to the dismay of the Berlin players and faithful, the ref waved play-on.

 

At this stage, Hertha were by far the better team and the controlling side but would pay for missed chances by Bastürk (65') and Dardai (71'). Fiedler was holding things together at the other end, saving well again from Valdez (68') but otherwise the visitors were unable to continue what they had begun in the first 45 minutes. When all seemed lost Werder found a second wind and turned the tie on its head.

 

Borowski and Valdez bag all three points

 

It was a heavy 30 meter free-kick from Naldo which got Werders revival underway. Owomoyela took a throw-in which the Berlin defence failed to clear and from 18 meters Tim Borowski met the loose ball on the volley and blemmed a shot that left the Berlin keeper with no chance - 1:1. The 86th minute: Ivan Klasnic goes alone on goal after being fed by substitute Daniel Jensen but turns his attempt wide of the upright. 89th minute: Another Owomoyela throw-in. Johan Micoud somehow scapes a cross back off the by-line to the centre of the box where Nelson Valdez climbed exquisitly to head Werder into the lead - 1:2!! Euphoria in green and white....

 

This win was more than just three points against a hot competitor for Werder but also gave the Bremen side second place, if just for 24 hours, in the table with 19 points, just two points behind leaders Bayern.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

 

 

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