Werder 1 Barcelona 1 - Robbed By Last Gasp Equaliser

First Team
Thursday, 28.09.2006 / 08:05

‚Super-Sub’ Lionel Messi robbed Werder Bremen of a both sensational and deserved win with an equaliser for Barcelona in the 89th minute of a sensational tie at the Weser Stadium.

‚Super-Sub’ Lionel Messi robbed Werder Bremen of a both sensational and deserved win with an equaliser for Barcelona in the 89th minute of a sensational tie at the Weser Stadium. The Green-Whites had put on a stunning performance and took a well earned lead in the 56th minute, albeit through an own goal by Barca captain Carles Puyol.

 

Werder coach Thomas Schaaf caused something of a stir, making some four changes to his starting eleven before the tie. On the left side of the back four, Christian Schulz forced out the out of form Pierre Womé whilst Per Mertesacker made his Werder debut at the top level, taking the spot left free by Petri Pasanen. Up front there was no surprise in the return of the fit again striker Miroslav Klose but his strike partner was unexpectedly Aaron Hunt who got the nod ahead of both Mohamed Zidan, Ivan Klasnic and Hugo Almeida.

 

Green-Whites get going with all guns blazing

 

Not many had reckoned with the introduction of Hunt but Thomas Schaaf’s move would prove to be a well thought out one, with the youngster making an impact right from the outset. Werder began bravely, showing respect for their highly fancied guests from Spain but not the slightest sign of fear. Following a break set up by a combination of Tim Borowski and the very agile Fritz Clemens, Hunt let go with his first shot to warn the Spaniards of what h had in mind, and that after just two minutes.

 

The 20 year old striker was extremely active, as were the whole Werder team, and was to be found on the left, on the right and always available to take on a pass. In the ninth minute, Hunt redirected a pass from Frank Baumann to Torsten Frings who came dangerously close with a shot which was anything but easy to take on.

 

It was an impressive performance from Werder Bremen who took the wind out of the sails of their much favoured opponents who looked anything like a Champions League title holder against the determined German side. Werder played confidently out of their defence, drove through the midfield with power and penned the visitors way back in their own half of the pitch – an unbelievable performance. It was just unfortunate that Miro Klose’s pass into the middle, having been played through by Diego, didn’t reach it’s at least one of its targets with options open to the German international from Tim Borowski on the far post and Torsten Frings in the centre (12’). Diego got a shot in from the resulting corner but never really threatened Victor Valdes’ goal.

 

Barcelona raise their game but the Werder defence are equal to the task

 

It took quarter hour before the Spanish giants could launch an attack on the Werder goal but then it proved highly dangerous for the Green-Whites. Ronaldinho, who had been kept very quiet, took on the ball and powered forward before feeding Samuel Eto’o who drove towards Tim Wiese’s goal but was stopped by a combination of the on-rushing keeper and Torsten Frings defensive tackle. The same combination of Brazilian and Cameroon international attacked again minutes later and this time Naldo was on hand to prevent Eto’o getting in a shot. In the 23rd minute the Cameroon striker got an effort goalwards but Tim Wiese was on hand to gather the ball.

 

Werder continued to perform at the top of their game and produced a concentrated and determined performance but FC Barcelona were somehow finding more room to manouver. The guests efforts more ofte than not broke down on the edge of the box with Werders newly formed defence with Per Mertesacker performing better than they have all season.

 

Werder take a well earned lead

 

The game went into the half time break goalless and the second period began not dissimilar to the first. Werder controlled the play, Werder wanted a goal – and this time Werder got one!! After chances for both Klose (50’) and Diego (53’), the Green-Whites constant pressure was rewarded in the 56th minute. Once again Aaron Hunt was very much involved bursting down the right and firing a cross into the box. Sensing Tim Borowski breathing down his neck, Barca centre half and captain Carles Puyol stuck out a leg to clear the danger but in his desperation turned the bal past his wrong footed keeper into the left corner – 1:0 for Werder.

 

With Werder in front, Barcelona upper the aunty and began to impose themselves on the game. At the same time though the Green-Whites remained fully alert and again and agaub managed to impressively frustrate their guests with a confident and decisive defensive performance. The home side didn’t just sit back to defend their lead and had chances to double their lead through Borowski (65’) and Klose (69’).

 

Messi spoils the party

 

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard brought Lionel Messi and Eidur Gudjohnson for the injured Eto’o and the disappointing Ludovic Guily. The young Argentine gave the visitors a lift and in the 75th minute danced his way past a number of challenges and got a shot in but way denied by the lightening reflexes of Tim Wiese.

 

Unfortunately for Werder, the young talent made better of the chance he got in the final minute of the match. One lapse in concentration by the Werder back four and Deco fed through a perfect pass to Messi who slipped the ball past a chance-less Wiese – a bitter 1:1 at the death.

 

37,500 raptuous supporters at the Weser Stadium were suddenly struck dumb. The shock of the late equaliser was almost impossible for some to bear and time to react was too short. Messi had stormed the Bremen party and stolen away two points with the tie all but over. Werder were left with the knowledge that they had performed superbly and rewarded poorly on the night. With the ‘Worlds-Best’ on the rails and the wind in their sails, one minute separated Werder Bremen from the greatest sensation in their recent history.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

 

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