Wonder Werder : 3:2 Win Against Juventus

First Team
Thursday, 23.02.2006 / 07:43

"We can pull off something exceptional", were Werder coach Thomas Schaaf's words prior to the Champions League clash with Italian giants Juventus Turin.

"We can pull off something exceptional", were Werder coach Thomas Schaaf's words prior to the Champions League clash with Italian giants Juventus Turin.

His team turned the dream into reality with a 3:2 win against one of the top club sides in the world, in the last 16 of the tournament. In a turbulant match, the homeside took the lead through Christian Schulz (39'). In the second half, Pavel Nedved pulled the teams level (74') before Trezeguet put the visitor's ahead (82'). Werder, down but never out, launched a late attack that, with goals from Tim Borowski (87') and then Johan Micoud (90+2), turned the tie around.

 

Klose - like he'd never been away

 

Werder Bremen were once again able to call on the services of German international striker Miroslav Klose, who had been out of action after picking up a shoulder injury against FC St. Pauli in the DFB Cup. Klose replaced Nelson Valdez in the starting eleven and played like he'd never been away. The home side attempted to set the early pace and tried their luck from distance with efforts from Ivan Klasnic (8') and Torsten Frings (14') but both remained harmless. Following a twenty minute feeler phase, Werder again took up the gauntlet. Frings tested the reflexes of Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon after taking a fantastic Klose pass on the volley (23'). The keeper had to be alert again from the resulting corner to fish a well placed Frank Fahrenhorst header out of the top corner.

 

A direct counter attack from the Italians showed the limitations in Werders offside trap which was often exposed by Dortmund at the weekend. Swedish superstar Ibrahimovic found himself with only keeper Tim Wiese to beat after a through ball from ex-Leverkusen player Emerson, luckily for Werder, the srtiker miscued his effort and shot well wide of the target. It was turning into a typical Werder match - high tempo, fantastic combination play moving forward and also the unneccessary weaknesses at the back but the German side showed no fear of their Italian guests.

 

Werder rewarded by curious Schulz goal

 

Quite the opposite, Juventus came more and more under the Werder wheels. Miroslav Klose sliced a volley just wide of the target (30'). Four minutes later Fahrenhorst came close to connecting with a corner but in the 39th minute, Werder got their reward for 19 shots on goal and 65% possession. Ivan Klasnic back heeled a pass into the run of Schulz who burst into the box but keeper Buffon touched the ball away. Miroslav Klose failed to connect properly with the ball but the Italian defence couldn't clear the ball out of the area. Cannavaro struck the ball against Schulz's leg and the riccochet landed in the Juventus net. 1:0 for Werder.

 

The hearts of the 36,500 were in their mouths as Trezuguet played Patrick Vieira through alone against Tim Wiese. The French midfielder's first touch was too heavy and the onrushing keeper was able to clear the danger and the sides went into the half time break with Werder deservedly in front. After the break, the home team took the foot off the pedal and allowed the visitors more room to play football. The Italians replaced a poor Ibrahimovic with striker legend Alessandro del Piero in the 58th minute to give the Italian front line a boost.

 

Nedved and Trezeguet turn the tides

 

Frings crossed to Borowski who headed just wide of the mark (66'). On the counter, Trezeguet came close with a driven effort. It was not long after when the 'Old Lady' caught the Germans cold, twice. Vieira picked out a whole in the Werder defence and found Pavel Nedved. The Czech midfielder kept his cool and slipped the ball past Wiese to even the scores (74'). But things were to get worse. Eight minutes later, Naldo deflected a del Piero cross onto the head of trezeguet. The Frenchman beat beat Owomoyela in the air and was happy to see his header hit the inside of the post and land in the net. The game had now swung in the Italians favour.

 

A deathly silence reigned over the stadium - the Werder fans in shock, but not the Werder players. They never lost their battling spirit and fought their way back into the game - and then done the almost impossible. Tim Borowski got a toe on a low Frings delivery and left the Juve keeper without a chance - 2:2.

 

Green-White happy end thanks to Micoud

 

With two of the three minutes of added time played, Werder won a corner. Borowski swung the ball in, Patrick Owomoyela won the ball and headed goalwards where Johan Micoud was poised to turn the ball home with a flicked header - 3:2. The end of a fascinating game which Werder Bremen managed to turn back in their favour deservedly. The Green-Whites can now travel to Turin with the knowkedge that they can score goals against the best defence in Italy - maybe there they can again do the seemingly impossible.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

 

Werder Bremen – Juventus Turin 3:2 (1:0)

 

Werder Bremen: Wiese - Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz - Baumann - Frings, Borowski - Micoud - Klose (67. Valdez), Klasnic; auf der Bank: Vander, D. Jensen, van Damme, Vranjes, Pasanen, Andreasen

 

Juventus Turin: Buffon - Blasi, Thuram, F. Cannavaro, Balzaretti - Emerson, Vieira - Camoranesi (75. Zalayeta), Nedved - Ibrahimovic (59. Del Piero), Trezeguet

 

Goals: 1:0 Schulz (39.), 1:1 Nedved (73.), 1:2 Trezeguet (82.), 2:2 Borowski (87.), 3:2 Micoud (90.)

 

Referee: Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)

 

Attendance: Weser-Stadium, 36.500 (sold-out)

 

Yellow cards: Schulz - Nedved, Trezeguet, Balzaretti, Vieira

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