Werder Bremen managed to salvage a point from their tie against Alemannia Aachen on the 13th match day of the season. A 20,800 capacity crowd at the Tivoli saw a game which finished 2:2 (1:0) despite the home side twice taking the lead....
Werder Bremen managed to salvage a point from their tie against Alemannia Aachen on the 13th match day of the season. A 20,800 capacity crowd at the Tivoli saw a game which finished 2:2 (1:0) despite the home side twice taking the lead....
Werder Bremen managed to salvage a point from their tie against Alemannia Aachen on the 13th match day of the season. A 20,800 capacity crowd at the Tivoli saw a game which finished 2:2 (1:0) despite the home side twice taking the lead through Sascha Rösler (34’) and then Jan Schlaudraff (68’) but PerMertesacker (48’) and Miroslav Klose (79’) recused the point for the visitors.
Trainer Thomas Schaaf again had to make do without the services of his captain Frank Baumann (Achilles tendon problem). Vice-captain Torsten Frings took up the free spot in front of the back four with Tim Borowski returning to the side on the left side of midfield leaving Christian Schulz on the bench. The rest of the side was unchanged from that which played against Borussia Dortmund last week.
Aachen with a strong start
Alemannia, who have changed their system from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 under new coach Michael Frontzeck, started at a stunning tempo. Both Christian Fiel (2’) and Laurentiu Reghecampf (10’) both came close with shots from distance which both landed very close to the target. Schlaudraff played a one-two with Fiel before setting up Rösler but the striker could only flash his shot over the crossbar (17’).
Werder Bremen came out of most challenges during the opening phases in second place and could cause little work for the Alemannia keeper. Aachen centre halves Alexander Klitzpera (14’) and Reiner Plaßhenrich (19’) both attempted clearances which led to chances for Mertesacker, respectively Klose, but neither could capitalise. The home side came closest to taking the lead as Reghecampf foxed Womé before cracking a shot off the bar (20’).
Alemannia did then take the lead in the 34th minute, as they had threatened, but not before Diego had gone agonisingly close with a drive from outside the box (31’). Jurica Vranjes attempted headed clearance fell to the feet of Reghecampf who crossed into the box where Rösler was on hand to head past Tim Wiese. Werder forced the issue to try equalise before the break with Tim Borowski pulling the best chance off the mark while standing unchallenged (36’). The keeper in the Aachen goal, Kristian Nicht, was twice called into action to deny a Klose header and then a ferocious shot from Vranjes (39’).
First for Mertesacker
Werder started the second period most brightly. Klose headed an Aaron Hunt free kick back across the face of the goal where Per Mertesacker climbed above Klitzpera to head home his first goal in the Green-White and draw his side back level (48’). The visitors pushed for the lead and came close as Klose set Borowski on his way but Nicht was on hand to deny the midfielder (57’). The German national striker also came close with a header but the direction of the effort failed Werder (63’).
With Werder pushing forward, Aachen took a shock 2:1 lead. On the counter attack, Jan Schlaudraff danced past Fritz and then Mertesacker and Naldo before chipping the ball excellently over the stranded Tim Wiese (68’). Schaaf brought Hugo Almeida for Borowski, who had shortly before hit the outside netting, in an attempt to force the issue. Nicht frustrated the new man, hooking the ball out of the top corner (76’). Werder then managed their equaliser as Klose rose to head home a Frings corner and make the score 2:2 (79’). At the death, Nicht produced a stunning save to save a point for his side with a lightening reaction save from point blank range as Naldo got his foot to a cross from the right meaning Werder had to settle for a share of the spoils.
John Muldoon
