Werder Bremen lost their friendly against relegated Bundesliga side 1. FC Kaiserslautern 3:1 (0:1). 1,000 spectators at the Mösle-Stadium in Götzis saw Leon Andreasen put the Bundesliga runners-up ahead after 35 minutes, a lead which they took into the half time break. The green-Whites lost their way during the second period and Lautern battled back to win with goals from Pavlovic (47'), Ouattara (65') and Halfar (80').
The first half showed no signs of producing the eventual defeat for the top flight club. The 'Red Devils' started the game with eight new signings in the starting eleven but harmonised well, despite this Werder held their own and created chances. In the sixth minute Werder broke into the Lautern penalty area but striker Mosquera fluffed the chance of giving his side the early lead.
In the 15th minute there was another opening for the Green-Whites when a corner caused panic in front of the Kaiserslautern goal. FCK keeper Fromlowitz was on hand though to clear the danger as a misqued clearance attempt spun goalwards.
Werders first half strength was mainly down to the quality they possessed going forward. Mihomed Zidan above all caused regular problems for the FCK defence in a game that was often interupted by niggly fouls. It was such an action by the little Egyptian that lead to Werder taking the lead. After a mazy run Zidan crossed to Diego who knocked the ball on to Fritz who in turn passed to Andreasen. The Danes strike landed neatly in the net - a deserved lead at that point.
The second division side were not at all shocked by the goal rather proving that trainer Wolfgang Wolf has put together a team with a mission of direct promotion. Suddenly it was FCK who were making the running and creating the chances. The Algerian Daham tried his luck with a bicycle kick (38') and just seconds before the break Riihilahti missed out by inches on a headed pass from Daham.
Much to the frustration of the Werder training staff, the second half begun as the first had ended. This time around the 'Red Devils' used their chances more effectively. A misplaced pass by Patrick Owomoyela was gathered in midfield and fed to striker Pavlovic whpo had no problems beating keeper Vander to equalise (47'). The side from Pfalz showed then why they've remained unbeaten in their pre-season programme so far as they punished Werder for their mistakes.
Despite the game calming down somewhat and Werder having the optical upper-hand it was the second division side who decided the tie. In the 65th minute the Bremen defence left Quattara totally alone from a free-kick to head KFC in front. Fifteen minutes later a whole cacophony of defensive mistakes lead to Lautern's third goal. A skewed Pasanen clearance fell to the opposition. Fahrenhorst spread himself in the box but the FCK striker Halfar pounced to shove the ball into an empty net.
Werder did have chances towards the end through Almeida (62'/77') and Vranjes (87') but it was all to no avail.
In the end Kaiserslautern deserved their 3:1 win and Werder had to suffer their second friendly defeat on the trot.
Johnnie Muldoon
Werder Bremen – 1. FC Kaiserslautern 1:3 (1:0)
Werder Bremen: Vander – Fritz (46. Owomoyela), Fahrenhorst, Pasanen, Schulz – Diego (46. D. Jensen), Hunt (58. Vranjes), Baumann, Andreasen – Zidan (46. Klasnic), Mosquera (46. Almeida)
FC Kaiserslautern: Fromlowitz - Müller (72. Gaebler), Ouattara, Schönheim (46. Bouzid), Belinghausen (79. Reinert) – Riihilahti, Demai, Hajnal (67. Bohl), Simpson – Daham (57. Halfar), Pavlovic (53. Ziemer)
Goals: 1:0 Andreasen (35.), 1:1 Pavlovic (47.), 2:1 Ouattara (65.) 3:1 Halfar (80.)
Referee: Thomas Gangl
Attendance: Mösle-Stadion Götzis: 1.000 spectators