90 minutes of top quality, top tempo football in the 83d northern derby finished in stalemate between Werder and HSV. The leagues best attack drew 1:1 (1:0) against the leagues top defence with Thomas Schaaf having to make a late change to his starting eleven, Petri Pasanen replacing Frank Fahrenhorst who had fallen foul to a stomach bug.
Werder got of to a better start and dominated the opening phase. The result was a number of chances to take the lead. Five minutes gone, Johan Micoud swung in a free-kick which Miroslav Klose climbed highest to meet but was denied his celebration by a brilliant save by HSV keeper Stefan Kirschtein. One minute later Torsten Frings flashed a drive from 20 meters just over the crossbar. Miroslav Klose, who was simply oozing determination and self confidence, again brought the best out of Kirschstein with and effort from the edge of the box (11'). Klose's strike partner Nelson Valdez could also have given Werder the lead but was also to be frustrated by the in form HSV keeper (14').
Werder power play long time unrewarded
HSV barely ventured out of their own half in the opening 20 minutes and couldn't find any rhythm in their play. Their first shot on goal was then a 22nd minute free-kick from Piotr Trochowski but Reinke was equal to it and turned the ball over the bar. Set plays on both sides were the cause of the most dangerous scenes. The most curious in the 25th minute when Torsten Frings hit the inside of the post and rebounded into play from the head of the HSV keeper, the free-kick coming from all of 50 yards. On this occasion the keeper was lucky but he proved his worth dealing with further free-kicks from Pasanen (29') and Naldo (31').
Kirschstein was in the thick of thibns again in the 38th minute when he was beaten to the ball by the cleverer Klose and then took the striker down, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Werder's wasting of chances wasn't to end here though as Micoud stepped up but was again to be denied by the HSV keeper.
Relieving 1:0 right on half-time
It had taken right until the half time break but the 1:0 eventually fell. Johan Micoud curled a free-kick into the far right hand corner of the goal where the ball hit the inside of the post but this time then into the net (45'). The game remained active after the break with a distinct bite in the challenges with the referee showing altogether eight yellow cards (five Werder, three HSV). HSV had taken a turn for the better but it was the home side who had the chance of increasing their lead despite being under pressure. Frings robbed David Jarolim of the ball and went alone but had his effort turned away for a corner by a spralling Kirschstein (56').
Werder would pay for wasting so many chances. Firstly Reinke pulled off a sensational save from Sergei Barbarez but the 36 year old keeper was helpless five minutes later. HSV substitutes Takahara and Kucukovic combined to pull the sides level. Takahara did the hard work on the edge of the box and found his strike partner Kucucovic who slipped the ball past Reinke from five meters.
In the following period, the referee was the busiest man on the park with hectic and niggly fours creping into the tie. Schaaf's men were in the end lucky to rescue a point when ex-Bremen man Raphael Wicky broke free and was stopped only by the flailing foot of Andi Reinke (88').
Johnnie Muldoon
Werder Bremen – Hamburger SV 1:1 (1:0)
Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Pasanen, Naldo, Andreasen - Baumann - Frings, Vranjes (80. Jensen) - Micoud - Valdez (71. Klasnic), Klose
Hamburger SV: Kirschstein - Mahdavikia, Demel, van Buyten, Atouba - Wicky - Jarolim (87. Klingbeil), Beinlich - Trochowski (66. Takahara) - Lauth (66. Kucukovic), Barbarez
Goals: 1:0 Micoud (45.), 1:1 Kucukovic (67.)
Referee: Meyer (Burgdorf)
Attendance: Weser-Stadion, 42.100 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Klose, Naldo, Owomoyela, Baumann, Pasanen - Atouba, Barbarez, Demel
Shots on goal: 20 : 12
Corners: 6 : 6
Crosses: 6 : 11
Possession: 49% : 51%
Tackles won: 51% : 49%
Fouls: 27 : 27
Offsides: 2 : 10
Most shots on goal: Frings (5) – Wicky, Trochowski, Kucukovic (je 2)
Most assists: Micoud (6) – Beinlich (4)
Most ball possession: Owomoyela (73) – Atouba (76)
Strongest tackler: Vranjes (71%) – Demel (65%)