Werder Bremen suffered their third defeat on the 14th match day of the current season when they were beated 2:1 (1:0) by Schalke 04. German international Kevin Kuranyi put his side in front after just two minutes but had his goal cancelled out by Nelson Valdez in the 55th. Kuranyi popped up once again in the 64th minute to snatch all three points for his club. An extra bitter after taste was added to the game when Werder had Torsten Frings dismissed with nine minutes to go which means he'll have to sit out the tie at home against Duisburg.
Compared to their Champions League match on Tuesday, the Green-Whites this time had to make do without top striker Miroslav Klose who suffered a broken cheek against Barcelona during Werders 3:1 defeat at the Nou Camp. Trainer Thomas Schaaf changed his tactics, with Nelson Valdez acting as a lone striker with back-up from an offensively orientated Torsten Frings. Jurica Vranjes filled the midfield gap left by Frings.
Kuranyi pounces on slack back pass
In a capacity packed Veltins-Arena, 61,524 fans saw Werder suffer a very early set-back. Andreas Reinke passed to Christian Schulz who, in turn, played on to Naldo in the middle. The Brazilian striker attempted to play the ball back to Reinke but failed to get enough power behind the ball and Kevin Kuranyi pounced on the free ball and easily slipped past the stranded keeper to make it 1:0 for the home team (2').
Werder took a further ten minutes to recover from the shock but then Schaafs side took the initiative and created a number of chances. Torsten Frings had the first try after Valdez knocked down a long ball from Jurica Vranjes into his path but the midfield man turned striker needed to much time to control the ball. Valdez had a go himself after some neat work between Micoud and Frings but failed to hit the target from a tight angle on the right (15'), as did Tim Borowski with a drive from distance (18').
By this stage the visitors were clearly on top and had their next opening in the 20th minute. Tim Borowski somehow managed to play through to Frings under pressre and on the turn but Frings couldn't test ex-Werder keeper Frank Rost in the Schalke goal with his lob. Then follwed a hat-trick of chances for Johan Micoud. Firstly Rost had to react quickly to turn away a headed effort by the Frenchman from a Christian Schulz corner. Then 'Le Chef' almost turned a Borowski drive past the Schalke keeper (31'). Finally, six minutes later, Micoud headed a Schulz free-kick comfotably into the arms of Frank Rost. Schalke lead was appearing more and more flattering with the home attack almost redundant before the break.
Valdez heads a deserved equaliser
Schalke seemed to have been rejuvinated by the half time break and made the better re-start, Dario Rodriguez coming close with a header after a Bordon free.kick (53'). The real flowing combination football was still being played by the Green-Whites and Micoud was again denied by Frank Rost after combining with Baumann and Valdez. The 32 year old wasn't to suffer from frustration for much longer though - from the subsequent corner Patrick Owomoyela won his arial challenge at the front post and Nelson Valdez flung himself at the knock on and headed the ball just inside the post to make the sccoreline 1:1 (55').
Werder decided not to push for a second goal but rather sit back and play for a point, which proved fatal just nine minutes after equalising. Reinke spread himself well to stop a left footed drive from Kobiashvili but could only parry the effort right to the feet of Kevin Kuranyi who grabbed a real poachers goal to put the homeside back in front. Schaaf reacted, bringing Aaron Hunt for Vranjes to add volume to his attack and the 19 year olds first touch almost helped Werder draw level. Valdez netted the pass from Hunt but had his celebrations ruined by the referees whistle - offside by mere milimeters!!!(71')
Werders misery would appear to have been endless when just after Borcon had crashed a shot against the outside of the post, Torsten Frings, already carrying a yellow card, won the ball in a challenge with Kobiashvili but referee Fandel saw a foul and issued the Werder midfield engine his second yellow and sent "Lutscher" for an early bath (81'). Werder attempted to force the issue with ten men but could find their way past a tight Schalke defence.
Johnnie Muldoon
Schalke 04 – Werder Bremen 2:1 (1:0)
FC Schalke 04: Rost - Rafinha, Bordon, Rodriguez, Krstajic - Hamit Altintop, Ernst - Lincoln (90. Bajramovic) - Varela (58. Asamoah), Kobiashvili, Kuranyi (88. Sand)
Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz - Vranjes (70. Hunt), Baumann - Frings, Micoud, Borowski - Valdez
Goals: 1:0 Kuranyi (2.), 1:1 Valdez (55.), 2:1 Kuranyi (64.)
Referee: Fandel (Kyllburg)
Attendance: Veltins-Arena - 61.524 Zuschauer (ausverkauft)
Yellow cards: Ernst, Rodriguez - Borowski, Baumann, Valdez
Red card: Frings (81.)
Shots on goal: 14 : 11
Corners: 0 : 6
Crosses: 8 : 7
Possession: 45% : 55%
Tackles won: 55% : 45%
Fouls: 24 : 32
Off-sides: 7 : 3
Most shots on goal: Bordon, Lincoln, Kuranyi (je 3) – Micoud (4)
Most assists: Lincoln (4) – Schulz, Frings (je 3)
Most possession : Lincoln (65) – Owomoyela (80)
Best tackler: Hamit Altintop (70%) – Naldo (67%)