Mission Accomplished!! 3:0 Win In Sofia

First Team
Wednesday, 01.11.2006 / 07:59

Like a truly classy European top team, Werder Bremen swept past Levski Sofia in the return leg of their meetings in the Champions League. At the Vasil-Levski-Stadium in Bulgaria’s capital city, the visitors only needed an exceptional fifteen minute period at the end of the first half to put three past the Bulgarian champions

Like a truly classy European top team, Werder Bremen swept past Levski Sofia in the return leg of their meetings in the Champions League. At the Vasil-Levski-Stadium in Bulgaria’s capital city, the visitors only needed an exceptional fifteen minute period at the end of the first half to put three past the Bulgarian champions. The Green-Whites took a 3:0 lead with three goals between the 34th and 37th minutes. In the second period the Bundesliga leaders secured their position and deservedly won their first Champions League away tie since December 2004. With now seven points from four games, Werder are now in second place in Group A and can optimistically look forward to the up-coming challenges against FC Barcelona and FC Chelsea.

 

Werder coach Thomas Schaaf sent out the same eleven, into the fray at the national stadium in Bulgaria, which beat FSV Mainz 6:1 last Friday evening. His opposite number had more problems though and was forced to replace his first choice keeper with the 18 year old Nikolai Michailov, a character who would have an extreme impact on the tie.

 

Motivated Bulgarian beginning

 

The hosts began the game brightly despite the fact that they have no points and a 1:10 goal difference in the tournament so far. Werder didn’t take long to adapt to the style of their opponent and found their own way into the game with some tight, passing football but were too often let down by poor final passes. As in the 10th minute when Klose played Frings through on the right, the midfield man attempted to cross to Aaron Hunt but the pass fell behind the speedy striker.

 

By that stage the guests had control of the match but that without creating any real clear openings. It took all of 25 minutes before the fans had something to growl about. Richard Eromoigbe hammered in a shot from distance which Tim Wiese was able to turn over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, there was yet more excitement for the 37,000 fans as Tomasic climbed to meet the delivery, totally unmarked, but headed needlessly way over the bar – luck was on the Green-White side on this occasion.

 

The Bundesliga club realised the danger and quickly reacted to it. Diego, who had a stunning first half and displayed unique ability on the ball, set Jurica Vranjes on his way into the box but the Croatian was unable to get his shot on goal. The first real chance for Werder (28’). The next five minutes produced little but it was to prove to be the calm before the proverbial storm. Levski got things underway. Werder hit quickly on the break through Torsten Frings but defender Lucio Wagner got a foot to the ball and passed back to his keeper, Nikolai Michailov, who had all the time in the world to control the ball and check his options. The keeper took his eye of the ball though and allowed it to slip under his foot and trickle over the goal line – 1:0 for Werder in the 33rd minute.

 

Ruthless Werder with three goals in four minutes

 

Levski were under shock and Werder were ruthless, two minutes later taking their next chance to make it 2:0. The young keeper turned a Hunt cross away for a corner which Frings delivered perfectly to the head of the unmarked Frank Baumann who headed into the top corner – his second ever Champions League goal. Another 120 seconds passed before Bremen put the tie well beyond their hosts. Jurica Vranjes laid the ball off on the edge of the box to the on rushing Frings who drove in a low shot from the corner of the penalty area. The keeper was again slow to react and the effort squeezed under his body into the far corner of the net. Werder were now 3:0 ahead.

 

The sequence and frequency of goal scoring baffled the Bulgarians who could find no way of breaking down Werder’s perfectly drilled system. Werder in turn had two chances to extend their lead yet further before the break. Hunt his a horrible, bobbling shot towards Michailov who was this time able to turn away for a corner. From the set piece Miroslav Klose could only head into the outside netting and Werder took a very comfortable three goal lead into the break.

 

Little second half action

 

Nothing was to change in the score line during the second period with very little real goal area action. The bitterly upset young Bulgarian keeper remained in the changing room at half time and was replaced by 19 year old Bozhidar Mitrev. The new man in goal was almost picking the ball out of the net with just three minutes played as Diego broke through and slammed a shot against the post. Tim Wiese, who had little to do, was twice alert when necessary to stop a pair of headers, firstly from Yovov and then from Bardon which the keeper turned around the post in some style. The last chance of the match fell to Werder substitute Ivan Klasnic who lashed in a shot which the keeper could only gather at the second attempt.

 

One bitter pill for the German side to swallow was the totally unnecessary yellow card for captain Frank Baumann seconds before he was substituted. His third yellow of the tournament means the defensive midfield man will miss what could be a vital home clash against Chelsea. On the positive side, with relatively little effort, Werder had total control of the match at all times and comfortably won their sixth game on the trot to secure at the very least further European involvement this season. But no one is even considering the possibility of not finishing in the top two – confidence and capability unquestioned.

 

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