The Ecstacy, The Agony, The Ecstacy

First Team
Friday, 04.11.2005 / 11:11

Yet another almost unbelievable European Cup tie at the Weser Stadium. Werder Bremen eventually overcame Calcio Udinese 4:3 (2:0) in a nail-biting game to snatch their first win in Champions League Group C.

Yet another almost unbelievable European Cup tie at the Weser Stadium. Werder Bremen eventually overcame Calcio Udinese 4:3 (2:0) in a nail-biting game to snatch their first win in Champions League Group C.

 

It was an eventful night which began with a major hic-cup for the German club. At short notice, Ivan Klasnic was hospitalised with an infected appendix, which ment trainer Thomas Schaaf was forced to resort back to Nelson Valdez, as in the first leg, to join Miroslav Klose up front. Udinese started the game with the same eleven which drew 1:1 with Werder two weeks previously at the Stadio Friuli.

 

Green-White fireworks

 

This time it was the German side with home advantage and began the game with a pulsating forward drive in front of 35,424 frantic supporters. On seven minutes Tim Borowski fired the first warning shot and was followed up two minutes later by a flashed effort from Miroslav Klose. It took just a quarter hour before the home side were rewarded for their offensive drive. Miroslav Klose rose to head home a Nelson Valdez cross. With Werder in the lead and piling forward, Udinese found themselves pegged back and left resorting to hopeful long balls which remained unfruitful.

 

Captain Frank Baumann had a shot saved by Udinese keeper Morgan De Sanctis after twenty-two minutes, but the keeper could do little to prevent the captain increasing the lead two minutes later. Baumann was the benifactor of a dazzling Klose run when the German international dribbled past three defenders before combining with both Tim Borowski and Nelson Valdez. Valdez' effort was deflected into Baumann's path by Bertotto and the captain pounced to make it 2:0.

 

Werder could have increased their lead in the first half firstly through Valdez after a Klose pass (27') and then Johan Micoud turned a Torsten Frings delivery against the bar (31'). The visitors were now having more involvement but the hosts took a deserved two goal lead into the half time break. The second half began much as the first ended and it took only six second half minutes for the Green-Whites to increase their lead when again Nelson Valdez proved provider for Johan Micoud who headed home to make it 3:0 (51').

 

From 3:0 to 3:3 in nine amazing minutes

 

 

Then,"Instead of enjoying a quiet evening", in the words of Klaus Allofs, the game took an unbelievable turn. Three minutes after Werder had extended their lead to three goals, the Italians suddenly fired up. Substitute Antonio Di Natale struck a shot from 18 meters which somehow scurried under Andreas Reinkes body to make it 3:1. A further three minutes later, Udinese capitalised on a midfield error and again Di Natale popped up on the left, and with only the keeper to beat, flicked the ball home - 3:2. With the home side in a state of shock, the Italians finished their fight back to silence the home fans. Di Natale, now proving a real torn in Werders side, drove a delivery across the box which Reinke completely misjudged only to see Christian Schulz's attempted clearance end up in his own net - unbelieveable but true - 3:3.

 

Micoud makes it a happy end

 

Luckily for Werder Bremen, Johan Micoud was on form and found the answer Werder had been hoping for. Torsten Frings swung in a free-kick from the right which Micoud turned home - 4:3. Despite the sending off of Giampiero Pinzi in the 71st minute, the match remained tight. Substitute Aaron Hunt almost made the tie safe with a looping header but yet again Di Natale was on hand to frustrate Werder, heading off the line (88').

 

Then it was time for Werder to celebrate the happy end of a nerve wracking night. After fighting spirit and four minutes added time, the hosts could eventually enjoy their first Champions League three pointer and keep their dreams of progression alive.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

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