Werder Bremen returned to the Weser after a DFB Cup quarter final defeat by St Pauli. The Green-Whites lost 3:1 (1:1) on Milerntor in Hamburg under catastoühic pitch conditions.
Werder Bremen returned to the Weser after a DFB Cup quarter final defeat by St Pauli. The Green-Whites lost 3:1 (1:1) on Milerntor in Hamburg under catastoühic pitch conditions.
Werder Bremen returned to the Weser after a DFB Cup quarter final defeat by St Pauli. The Green-Whites lost 3:1 (1:1) on Milerntor in Hamburg under catastoühic pitch conditions.
Werder started with the experienced Andreas Reinke between the posts and Thomas Schaaf otherwise put out his best available eleven. For St. Pauli, Jens Scharping started up front for the first time in eight years after returning from his time at Alemannia Aachen.
Just four hours prior to kick-off, referee Dr. Felix Brych passed the pith playable despite catastophic pitch conditions. It was now clear that this was bound to be a curious DFB Cup quarter final, with more interest in watching players slipping and sliding without the ball than actually watching football being played. It was obvious from the kick-off that the ball was by-near impossible to control on the snow and ice covered surface. Pauli reacted well to the conditions and decided the best tactic was to launch high balls towards their strikers in the hope of creating chances. Werder fans suffered their first shock after just six minutes when ex-Werder man Timo Schultz found himself with only Andreas Reinke to beat but luckily for the Green-Whites he couldn't get the ball undr control and fluffed his chance.
Only four minutes later, Frank Fahrenhorst and Patrick Owomoyela were caught flat footed, allowing Michél Mazingu-Dinzey to nick in at the back post to put the home side 1:0 in front (10'). The Pauli lead was the next sensation of the DFB Cup 2005/2006. The host put Werder under pressure through pure determination with Werder trying to combine despite the weather. Pauli appeared to have the situation under control but Werder still managed to find a breakthrough. With some precise one-touch passing between Tim Borowski and Miroslav Klose, the ball eventually fell to Johan Micoud who put the Green-Whites back on level terms.
By this stage of the game, Werder were beginning to find their feet (sic) but the Green-Whites fans were in for their second shock of the night just before the break. Miroslav Klose went down under a challenge and had to be treated and then substituted with a dislocated shoulder. Nelson Valdez came for the German international and almost gave the visitors the lead just after having his header turned away by the Pauli keeper at the last moment. Tim Borowski also saw a distance effort crack off the crossbar before the break.
Werder tried to continue with combination football in the second half but were poor in finding the final ball. The 'Kiez-Kickers' forced the issue with dangerous long balls into the Werder box which were proving increasingly difficult to deal with. From a corner Patrick Owomoyela cleared with a header from off the line but the ball again fell to a Pauli man whose sliced attempt landed perfectly for Fabian Boll who hammered home on the half volley. inspired by their lead the Brown-Whites struck again six minutes later. Mazingu broke past two Werder defenders and then lost control of the ball which landed at the feet of Timo Schultz who found the net despite the best efforts of Andreas Reinke.
Werder shook themselves off and pushed to reduce the deficit. Nelson Valdez feeding Torsten Frings who put the ball just wide of the right post. The Paraguayan striker was in the thick of things again a few minutes later when he burst through in the box and then went down under a Fabio Morena challenge. The referee awarded the penalty. Tim Borowski stepped up but couldn't beat Armin Hollerieth in the Pauli goal and Valdez was also off target with his effort from the rebound. For the remaining tweleve minutes, the Hamburg side shut up shop and frustrated Werder with determination and stout defending.
St. Pauli created the next DFB sensation with their 3:1 win in the quarter final having sent Hertha BSC Berlin packing tin the last round. The Schaaf dream of another Berlin appointment is now shattered.
