Bitter Champions League Exit For Brave Bremen

First Team
Thursday, 09.03.2006 / 13:04

A bitter end for Werder Bremen after a fantastic Champions League performance in Turin. The Green-Whites looked likely to re-write the history books, frustrating their hosts Juventus until the 88th minute when a horrible goalkeeping error allowed Emerson to make the scoreline 2:1 and send Werders faithful crashing back to earth after being on a rollercoaster of emotions.

A bitter end for Werder Bremen after a fantastic Champions League performance in Turin. The Green-Whites looked likely to re-write the history books, frustrating their hosts Juventus until the 88th minute when a horrible goalkeeping error allowed Emerson to make the scoreline 2:1 and send Werders faithful crashing back to earth after being on a rollercoaster of emotions. A stunningly courageous performance from Thomas Schaaf's men saw them take the lead in the 13th minute through Johan Micoud and hold on to their lead until the 65th minute when David Trezeguet put the Italians back on level terms.

 

Back to the beginning, and Thomas Schaaf could reintroduce his captain Frank Baumann and his Brazilian defender Naldo after they'd both missed out against Leverkusen at the weekend (1:1) through injury. The two replaced Jurica Vranjes and Petri Pasanen in the starting eleven which meant it was the same first selection that took to the pitch against Juventus two weeks ago at the Weser Stadium.

 

Dream start: Micoud puts Werder ahead

 

"We can put ourselves in the history books", remarked Thomas Schaaf prior to the game and his team started the game with the intention of proving they deserve a spot among the top clubs in Europe. Juve had the first half chance when Owomoyela cleared a Nedved cross which was bound for Trezeguet. After that the Green-Whites really turned on the style, much to the surprise of many of the 35,000 at the Stadio delle Alpi. There were no signs of a packed defence, exaggerated respect or any fear of their much favoured opponents. On the contrary, Werder got amoungst their opponents early in their play, putting the Italian champions under pressure and forcing mistakes. The defence stood strong and controlled the feared striking pour of Nedved, Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic.

 

After just 13 minutes, the Green-Whites were rewarded for their brave efforts. Christian Schulz won the ball in the midfield and played a perfectly weighted reverse pass into the run of Johan Micoud who kept his cool to clip the ball over the on-rushing Buffon in the Juve goal - 1:0 for Werder. It was a rude awakening for the confident Juventus side and all the more reason for Werder to dream of their place in the history books becoming reality.

 

The superstar ensemble from the Olympic City appeared rattled by Werders approach and began to lift their play after 25 minutes and break through the Werder back four for the first time. A misunderstanding between Schulz and Tim Weise almost led to a Juve equaliser. The left full back won the race to the ball with Mauro but his back header eluded the keeper and both parties were very relieved to see the ball trickle the right side of the post in Werders opinion.

 

The resulting corner was equally dangerous but Tim Weise took the opportunity to make up for his slip by blocking Trezeguet's five meter shot. Werder managed to weather the storm and calm down the proceedings. The Turin team attempted to raise their play and press Werder but without success. The Italians fell foul to Bremen's off-side trap all of ten times in the first half. The whole Werder eleven played their hearts out and took a deserved lead into the half time break with Juve piling on the pressure. Firstly Trezeguet headed wide from a Zambrotta cross before Weise stunningly denied both Nedved and Emerson in quick succession (45'). At the other end, Ivan Klasnic came agonisingly close to making it 2:0 after being put through by Owomoyela but ex-World Goalkeeper Buffon denied the Croatian (43').

 

'Old Lady' turns the screws

 

Juventus trainer Fabio Capello's half time talk was clearly a firey with his side coming out for the second period with all guns blazing. The Italians had a plethera of chances with Fahrenhorst (46') and Tim Wiese (48') both denying the Czech Nedved. The Werder keeper was on hand again to foil the French super striker Trezeguet (49').

 

The German side overcame the first bout of Juve pressure and began to release the pressure on their defence. Klasnic snapped a shot just wide of the right post from 18 meters (50') and then Micoud fed Tim Borowski who couldn't get his shot away properly (54'). Capello reacted to his striggling sides problems and introduced his super sub Alessandro del Pierro in the 57th minute along with Romanian striker Adrion Mutu for the disappointing Swede Ibrahimovic and Camoranesi who the Bremen defence had kept very quiet all night.

 

Caught cold: Trezeguet makes it 1:1</b<

 

It was two old favourites who combined to grab the Juventus equaliser. Pavel Nedved won the ball on the break and played through to David Trezeguet who this time gave Wiese no chance of heroics to equalise for the Italians. Signs of a Werder wobble raised their heads with Juve pressing for a winner. Wiese pulled off a fabulous save from a del Pierro free-kick but was lucky that no one was on hand to make use of the resulting corner that the keeper had underestimated (71').

 

Werder had only one more chance on goal in the 77th minute when Buffon was forced to gather the ball at a second attempt from a Klasnic shot. The visitors defence was visibly tiring but holding the Serie A leaders somehow at bay. Werders keeper was having the game of his life and again saved brilliantly although he saw Emersons 87th minute effort very late.

 

With only a couple of minutes remaining, the unbelieveable occured. Tim Weise safely snatched a Nedved cross but in falling the keeper spilled the ball at the feet of Emerson who turned and shot into an empty goal to make it 2:1 for the home side. Amazing that it should be Werders best man who made the mistake which cost them not just the game but further participation in the tournament. Werder were out - after two breathtaking games against one of the worlds footballing giants, including a 3:2 win at the Weser Stadium. The Green-Whites deserved more for their unrelenting efforts at the Stadio delle Alpi but the game can be cruel and Werders dream turned to a nightmare in the 88th minute.

 

<i>Johnnie Muldoon

 

 

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

 

Juventus Turin: Buffon - Zambrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zebina - Camoranesi (57. Del Piero), Emerson, Vieira, Nedved - Ibrahimovic (57. Mutu), Trezeguet

 

Werder Bremen: Wiese - Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz - Baumann (73. Pasanen) - Frings, Borowski - Micoud - Klose, Klasnic (81. Valdez); auf der Bank: Vander, Andreasen, van Damme, Vranjes, D. Jensen

 

Goals: 0:1 Micoud (13.), 1:1 Trezeguet (65.), 2:1 Emerson (88.)

 

Referee: Graeme Poll (England)

 

Attendance at Stadio delle Alpi: 35.000 Zuschauer

 

Yellow cards: Del Piero - Micoud, Baumann

 

 

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