Werder Bremen have made a positive start to 2007. The green-Whites beat Besiktas Istanbul 4:0 (1:0) in the semi-final of the Efes-Pilsner-Cup and in doing so reap revenge for last years 2:3 defeat by the Turkish side.
Werder Bremen have made a positive start to 2007. The green-Whites beat Besiktas Istanbul 4:0 (1:0) in the semi-final of the Efes-Pilsner-Cup and in doing so reap revenge for last years 2:3 defeat by the Turkish side.
Werder Bremen have made a positive start to 2007. The green-Whites beat Besiktas Istanbul 4:0 (1:0) in the semi-final of the Efes-Pilsner-Cup and in doing so reap revenge for last years 2:3 defeat by the Turkish side.
Hugo Almeida gave the German league leaders the lead a minute before the half-time interval and shortly after the re-start his strike partner Miroslav Klose doubled the lead. Naldo (71’) and again Almeida (79’) put Werder out of sight later in the second period. In the final of Friday, 11.01.2007, Werder Bremen will face the winner of the second semi-final between Feyenoord Rotterdam and Fenerbahce Istanbul.
Two days, four training sessions and on Monday evening the first friendly match. The strain of the energy sapping training camp was clearly visible as Werder began the match. The German side dominated the opening phase of the game but were wasteful with their chances as both Hugo Almeida (2’) and Per Mertesacker (3’) missed the target. At the other end Fahri was equally imprecise, lashing his 25 meter shot way over the crossbar (5’).
Close call for Mertesacker
There was danger in the Turkish penalty area again on the quarter hour as Diego swung in a corner which Mertesacker rose to meet only two meters from goal. The hesitant Besiktas goalkeepr remained rooted to his spot and was happy to see the German internationals header go over the bar. Werder’s attempts to hit with pace were all too often broken down by sloppy passing in the midfield and the final ball failed to reach it’s destination. The Turkish sides efforts to cause any problems for the Bremen defence were never enough to worry Werder’s lofty pillars of Naldo and Mertesacker at the centre of defence.
With half an hour played, the German side again had opportunities to take the lead, three in all. Diego fed Hugo Almeida whose shot was blocked away for a corner. Two minutes later Christian Schulz delivered a floated free-kick towards the back post which Tim Borowski and Naldo could only combine in putting over the crossbar. Then another chance for the on loan striker Almeida. A slip by ex-Freiburg man Ali Günes allowed the Portuguese striker to get a shot in but on this occasion it was the upright which saved Besiktas (35’).
Werder raised their game and were finally rewarded for their efforts with a goal a minute before the half-time break. Daniel Jensen put Diego through with a neatly lobbed pass which baffled the Istanbul clubs defence. The keeper was only able to parry the Brazilians driven shot and the free ball fell to Almeida who only needed to slip the loose ball over the line to give Werder a 1:0 lead.
Klose doubles the deficit
Werder resisted the opportunity to make any personnel changes in the break. After the re-start Besikas had an early chance to equalise but it was Werder who struck, hitting immediately on the counter attack. Unlucky for the Turks. The pass which fell to Miroslav Klose came from a Besiktas player which foiled the offside trap. Werder’s top striker foxed his first marker but was in luck again as the second defender deflected the ball cruelly past his own keeper – 2:0 for Werder (48’).
The Turkish side had few chances to speak of and were negligent with those which came their way. Such as in the 56th minute as Ibrahim Akin wildly swung over the ball from five meters out or when Ricardinho failed to beat the rarely tested Tim Wiese with a low struck effort (66’).
Turkish spirits appeared broken and it was one way traffic in the Green-Whites favour from there on in. Miroslav Klose curled a perfectly weighted cross onto the head of Diego from the left but Werder’s playmaker headed the ball straight at the Istanbul keeper (68’). It was a well delivered corner from the Brazilian three minutes later that lead to Bremen’s third. Diego spotted three team mates buzzing around the edge of the six yard box and struck the ball hard in their general direction. Naldo, first to the ball ahead of Mertesacker and Klose, headed home from close range to make the score line 3:0.
Almeida brace seals the win
The game was decided but Werder weren’t quite finished yet. The Turks through everything into attack and left gaping holes for Werder to exploit. Borowski selflessly passed to Almeida inside the box and the powerfully built front man jinked past his marker to slide the ball into an empty net – 4:0 (79’). Besiktas’ Görkan did have the ball in the Bremen net but was denied his celebration by the offside flag. A Turkish side who had held their own for long periods in the first half were harshly punished by a Werder side which now progresses to the tournaments final. One further notable point for the Werder side was the debut of Kevin Schindler. The 18 year old made his first appearance in the Bremen first team after having played just four games in the reserves, coming on with eleven minutes to go for two goal man Hugo Almeida.
