Werder Falter To VfB - 4:1 In Stuttgart

First Team
Sunday, 11.02.2007 / 08:53

It was the second defeat in a week for Werder Bremen in a Bundesliga top match on Saturday. In a high tempo, top quality match, The Green-Whites faltered to a 4:1 (3:1) defeat by VfB Stuttgart.

It was the second defeat in a week for Werder Bremen in a Bundesliga top match on Saturday. In a high tempo, top quality match, The Green-Whites faltered to a 4:1 (3:1) defeat by VfB Stuttgart. A rampant VfB got off to a stunning start, taking an early 2:0 lead with goals by Roberto Hilbert (3’) and Mario Gomez (15’). Diego threw Werder a lifeline with a goal in the 21st minute but Ludovic Magnin restored the two goal deficit. The Green-Whites raised their game in the second period but wasted a number of seemingly clear chances. A clever Stuttgart side stuck to their guns and were rewarded for their patience with a fourth goal by Marco Streller four minutes from time.

 

Werder started the game with three changes to the side that lost 2:0 to Schalke 04. Tim Wiese made his return between the posts having recovered from his thigh injury. Torsten Frings was back in the starting eleven again after his suspension and Aaron Hunt rejoined Miroslav Klose up front.

 

Double trouble

 

VfB had clearly a set game plan against Werder and caught the visitors cold with just three minutes on the clock. The ex-Werder full back Ludovic Magnin delivered a cross into the box which eluded Mario Gomez but Roberto Hilbert got in ahead of Pierre Womé to hammer home from eleven meters out. The lead further inspired Armin Veh’s men who continued to press and left Werder looking lacklustre against a compact, quick and technically strong Stuttgart side.

 

After a quarter hour, Mario Gomez took advantage of a well worked VfB attack to make it 2:0. Hilbert won control and passed to Cacau, who saw the run of his young strike partner and set him through. Gomez took on the pass well and glided past Per Mertesacker before slotting the ball past Tim Wiese with a perfectly placed left footed shot. Just five minutes before hand the Werder keeper had been able to deny the VfB number 11 but was helpless on this occasion.

 

Diego gives Werder hope

 

Werder had been caught napping for the second time and were now finally full awake. Clemens Fritz tried his luck with a shot from 20 meters which Timo Hildebrand was easily able to pluck from the air (20’). A minute later though, and Werder were back in the tie. The much improved Tim Borowski broke past Pavel Pardo on the edge of the box and passed into the six yard area. Miroslav Klose did well to put Serdar Tasci under pressure and as the ball broke free, the on-rushing Diego hammered the ball under the crossbar from point blank range.

 

The pace of the game was more relaxed now as Diego, Frings and Borowski took more control of the midfield. Diego could have, and possibly should have, pulled his side back level but following some combination play between Womé and Hunt, the little Brazilian struck a hard shot goal wards which Hildebrand dealt with magnificently. Instead of being 2:2, suddenly it was 3:1 for the home side. The impressive Magnin powered past Clemens Fritz and headed toward goal. From the edge of the box, the Swiss international curled the ball neatly around Wiese and inside the far post. Not even at full stretch could the Werder keeper do anything to stop VfB restoring their two goal deficit (33’).

 

Stuttgart were now sailing and could have made it 4:1 as Tasci crossed into the box but his delivery was missed by both Gomez and Cacau (35’). Werder failed to find the space to initiate their so much feared close passing game and never really looked like getting back into the game before the break despite chances for both Borowski (38’) and Frings (45’).

 

Werder put the pressure on

 

Schaaf’s men took to the second half in much more aggressive fashion and raised their game, pressurising Stuttgart and forcing the home team back in their own half. A row of chances came Werders way with Aaron Hunt (47’), Naldo (55’), substitute Markus Rosenberg (62’), Miroslav Klose (63’) and the Green-Whites best man Diego (65’) all having sight of goal but failing to make use of their openings. Tim Borowski had the best chance to reduce the deficit to one goal. From a Vranjes pass, ‘Boro’ found himself with the goal yawning widely at his mercy. The German international drove his shot to what seemed like a guaranteed goal but somehow, with an amazing reflex, Timo Hldebrand got a hand up to deny Borowski (68’).

 

Eight minutes later, the VfB keeper who was having the game of his season, again frustrated his international colleague Borowski and kept the score at 3:1. Stuttgart were happy to patiently await their chance and hit Werder on the break. The visitors were visibly tiring and the host side took the opportunity to seal the points, and a fantastic win. A break through Gomez and Hilbert was finished off at the second attempt by substitute Marco Streller to make the final score 4:1.

 

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