Werder Turn The Tides On 0:2 Deficit

First Team
Sunday, 05.02.2006 / 10:35

On the 19th match day of the season, Werder Bremen managed to defend their second place in the league. Werder Bremen beat FSV Mainz 05 4:2 (3:2) and start the second round of Bundesliga games perfectly with two wins.

On the 19th match day of the season, Werder Bremen managed to defend their second place in the league. Werder Bremen beat FSV Mainz 05 4:2 (3:2) and start the second round of Bundesliga games perfectly with two wins.

 

Thomas Schaaf decided to make a number of changes to the side which beat Bielefeld last weekend. One change forced upon the Werder coach was the replacement of the suspended Christian Schulz who was deputised for by the Belgian full back Jelle van Damme on the left side of defence. On the right side of the back four, Finnish international Petri Pasanen replaced Patrick Owomoyela. Mainz too had to make changes to the side which beat Cologne last weekend. Jürgen Klopp brought Niclas Weiland for the suspended Michael Thurk and keeper Dimo Wache returned after his cartridge operation.

 

The game got off to a disasterous start for the Green-Whites. Mohamed Zidan, who is on loan at Mainz from Bremen , gave the visitors the lead after 13 seconds - the fastest Bundesliga goal of the season. The opening phase was played at break neck speed, with just a minute gone Nelson Valdez could have equalised. From a Tim Borowski free-kick, Ivan Klasnic knocked on for the on-rushing Valdez, but keeper Wache was on had to the deny Werder a leveller. Soon after, Jelle van Damme tried his luck with a pile driver of a shot from around 20 yards after a half cleared corner but the Belgians effort sailed over the crossbar and away.

 

Then there was a shock for the visitors. The just recovered Dimo Wache went down after an aerial challenge with Naldo and was to be replaced by sub keeper Christian Wetklo with a suspected cruciate and inner ligament tear. Mainz continued to press and a long clearance from the new keeper found it's way to Otto Addo, who broke past van Damme into the box and squared to Niclas Weiland who slid the ball past Andreas Reinke to give the guests an unprecidented 0:2 lead (13').

 

It took the home side a good half hour to get into the game but then the Green-White began to show their true colours. The lanky defender Naldo came close with a header from a van Damme cross. It was to the last involvement for the Brazilian who was sacrificed by Thomas Schaaf to bring Daniel Jensen in an offensive move. The change was to prove extremely effective almost immediately. Ivan Klasnic found Johan Micoud in the penalty area with a pass which the Frenchman controlled brilliantly but blasted his shot on the turn way off target.

 

It seemed only a matter of time before Werder got a goal back. In the 39th minute, Torsten Frings somehow squez a ball through the Mainz defence to Valdez who beat his marker and the keeper to make it 1:2.

 

The long treatment to the Mainz keeper was to work to Werders favour when the referee allowed five minutes extra to be played in the first half. Mainz were just hoping to take ther lead into the break but Werder had other ideas. With a minute gone in added time, Daniel Jensen played an inch perfect ball to the head of 'December Player of the Month' Johan Micoud and the Frenchman climbed unhindered to head his side back level. With Mainz still reeling from the equaliser, Frings again played a pass to cut through the defence to Klasnic who shook off the stranded Mainz keeper and slide the ball into the empty net - the tides had been turned, and all that before half time.

 

After the break Werder took control and allowed their guests very few chances to get back into the tie. Tim Borowski had a chance to put the game beyond FSV but was to be frustrated by the flailing arm of Wetklo. The German international picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will not be available to play VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday. In the 62nd minute, Micoud had a further opportunity to etend Werders lead but again Wetklo could clear the danger.

 

Minutes later, Ivan Klasnic played a ball straight through the heart of the Mainz defence into the run of Nelson Valdez. The Paraguayan powered forward alone and slipped the ball past the keeper to put paid to any hopes Mainz may still have had of snatching a point. On the down side for Werder, Frank Baumann also picked up his fifth yellow cardand cannot take part on Wednesday. Thomas Schaaf also gave the 18 year old Jerome Polenz his Bundesliga debut on a day that Werder had to show their true grit to overturn a 0:2 deficit and take all three points.

Weitere News

Your web browser ist outdated.
The web browser you are using is no longer supported.
Please download one of these free and up to date browsers.
Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge
Chrome Firefox Edge
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
MS Edge
Why should I use an up to date web browser?
Security
Newer web browsers provide better protection against malware, data theft and other threats to your privacy and security. Up to date browsers continuously close security holes that allow attackers to enter your computer.
New Technologies
The technologies used on modern websites are better supported by newer web browsers. This both increases functionality and improves the website layout. By benefiting from new functions and extensions you will be able to surf the web faster and easier.