Leer 3:0 with goals from new Brazilian signing Diego (35') and a brace from Mohamed Zidan (8'/43').
Leer 3:0 with goals from new Brazilian signing Diego (35') and a brace from Mohamed Zidan (8'/43').
German Bundesliga runner-up have won their second friendly game in preparation for the new season. The Green-Whites beat non-league Germania Leer 3:0 with goals from new Brazilian signing Diego (35') and a brace from Mohamed Zidan (8'/43').
It was clear from the outset that Werder Bremen were going to have their work cut out for them at the Hoheellern-Stadium. There were heavy legs to battle with after a long weeks tough training. Naldo, Fahrenhorst and Co. were especially solid at the back but trainer Thomas Schaaf did have to do without the services of captain Frank Baumann who was carrying a slight knock. Most of the play was confined to the central area of the park with little happening around the goal area with a well drilled opposition defence to deal with and with Werder missing their five World Cup participants.
The fact that the game finished successfully for the Bundesliga side was down to effectively used chances. When the Gree-Whites did manage to approach the box dangerously, the ball finished up in the net. It was a strong drive from 14 meters by Zidan that set Werder on their way in the 8th minute. Werder striker John Jairo Mosquera had broken free in the box but with no way through the tightly packed defence he laid off with a back heel for Zidan who completed the job.
Werders following two goals were the result of imoressive solo efforts. Werders new Brazilian signing Diego found the space to get through the tightly packed back line and struck from 20 meters. Leer keeper Gronevold could get a finger tip to the effort but couldn't stop the ball flying into the top right corner of the goal - 2:0 for Werder.
Shortly before the break, Mohamed Zidan finished off the non-league side with a stunning effort. The Egyptian broke into the box on the left, and flink of foot, slipped his marker and let a shot go. Cheers from the 4,800 crowd followed the bulging of the net.
For the second half, Thomas Schaaf gave almost all of his reserves the chance to show their talents. Unfortunately the game fell foul to the stifelingly humid weather conditions, the comfortable lead and the newly flung together formation. One negative aspect of the second half for Werder was the injury to Martin Harnik who was forced out in the 77th minute with a ligament tear.
A curiosity was the team doctors other two moments of involvement during the game. The Bremen doctor was also in action to attend to an inkjury picked up by a Leer player. Moments later he was busy dealing with a spectator who had passed out behind the goal and the crowd had called for medical assistance.
On the sporting side, trainer Thomas Schaaf was not unsatisfied with his teams performance: "You have to put a game like that into perspective. We've had a hard weeks training. The point of the game was to get the players to play together again and find their feet. I saw this working in the team - the determination and will was there." The coach explained the difference the two sides as so: "The fact that things looked a bit shaky in the second half was down to the team playing in a formation that they had never played in. It was clear to see that the more experienced players were playing in the first half."
Johnnie Muldoon
Germania Leer – Werder Bremen 0:3 (0:3)
Germania Leer: Gronevold (46. Lücking) – Wessels (46. Mut), Lübbers, Rodriguez, Harries (55. Janssen), Colak, Pikula (55. Zaps), van Hoorn (46. Janßen/55. Busemann), Duwe, Sylla, Kurpiel (46. Lünemann)
Werder Bremen, 1st half: Vander – Wome, Naldo, Andreasen, Fritz – Schulz, D. Jensen, Diego, Rockenbach – Zidan, Mosquera
Werder Bremen, 2nd half: K. Jensen – Theuerkauf, Mohr, Fahrenhorst, Owomoyela – Peitz, Andreasen, Bischoff, Hunt – Harnik (77. Mosquera), Polenz
Goals: 1:0 Zidan (8.), 2:0 Diego (35.), 3:0 Zidan (43.)
Hoheellern-Stadion: 4.800 spectators
