Werder Keep The Pressure On Schalke

First Team
Monday, 09.04.2007 / 09:54

With a deserved, if narrow, 1:0 win over 1. FC Nuremberg, Werder Bremen have yet again made the race to take the German championship a very close run one. In a relatively evenly matched game, the Green-Whites were forced to wait until the 75th minute before they could break the deadlock

With a deserved, if narrow, 1:0 win over 1. FC Nuremberg, Werder Bremen have yet again made the race to take the German championship a very close run one. In a relatively evenly matched game, the Green-Whites were forced to wait until the 75th minute before they could break the deadlock through substitute Markus Rosenberg. The win means that Werder stay hot on the heals of Schalke 04, with only two points seperating the top two.

 

Pasanen as left full-back

 

There was a personnel surprise for the 42,100 spectators at the Weser Stadium. Petri Pasanen was in the starting eleven as left full-back, a necessary move with both Pierre Womé and Christian Schulz out through injury. With Daniel Jensen still out of action, Aaron Hunt filled the gap on the left side of midfield.

 

The Green-Whites were determined to take control of proceedings from the outset but didn't have it all their own way. Nuremberg, who have very realistic UEFA Cup aspirations of their own, were far from being as defensively minded as Werder's opponents from last weekend. The visitors from Franken switched play quickly, attacked Werder early and showed that they had not just come to prevent the home side scoring.

 

Well organised guests

 

Werder were clearly lacking in ideas as to how to break down the extremely well organised FCN defence. Diego tried his luck from distance after just three minutes but the effort posed few problems for keeper Raphael Schäfer. The goalkeeper had to act again soon after to prevent a Jurica Vranjes cross reaching the head of Hugo Almeida (14').

 

Nuremberg were clearly more dangerous as they pressed forward. Ivan Saenko won the ball from Clemens Fritz in a challenge out by the left corner flag and picked out the on rushing Jan Polak who attempted to turn the ball goalwards with the outside of his right boot. The effort spun across the face of the goal and almost fell perfectly for Markus Schroth but luckily for the home side the striker couldn't react quickly enought to turn the ball home (24'). There was little by the way of real danger for the goal at the opposite end of the park. Aaron Hunt had a half chance thanks to a rare slip by the FCN defence (26') and from a Torsten Frings corner, Per Mertesacker headed over the crossbar (38').

 

Ailton: “Werder must do more”

 

Until this point the home side just hadn't done enough to win the tie and the fact was also acknowledged by a well known guest in the stands. “Werder need to do more, move more”, demanded long time Green-White goal getter Ailton. It would appear as if the striker one time team mates heard him, as Werder came out for the second half seemingly fired up and ready to go.

 

Werders second half began with a well played ball from Hunt to Klose. The German international waited too long to make his pass to Almeida in the box and Glauber was able to clear the danger (46'). The Green-Whites appeared to be more in control of the tie and were beginning to combine more comfortably than during the first 45 minutes. With a couple of left footed efforts, Almeida twice had sight of goal (54', 56') and Michael Beauchamp was forced to block a Hunt effort on the hour. The home side did get the ball in the net after Naldo converted a Mertesacker header but referee Michael Weiner had spotted a foul and didn't allow the goal to stand. FCN began to show signs of life again soon after. Polak tested Wiese with a shot from distance (62') and a minute later Hunt had to clear a Saenko delivery before it reached the waiting Beauchamp.

 

With twenty minutes to go, Werder coach Thomas Schaaf opted to go for all out attack and brought striker Markus Rosenberg for midfield man Jurica Vranjes. It was to prove a stroke of genius by the trainer. Just as when he scored the vital 1:1 equaliser against Bayern Munich, the Swede was barely five minutes on the pitch before the opposition net was left bulging. Naldo had swung in a cross to Almeida. The Portuguese strikers effort his the post and sprung back into play where Roseberg was perfectly placed to elegantly back heel the ball over the line – 1:0.

 

'Baumis' return, 'Merte' injured

 

Werder failed to increase their lead with a golden chance for Almeida (77') and found themselves under severe pressure in the closing phase. A header from Glauber proved mere centimeters off target (83') and Wiese was forced to save from Saenko (84'). The home side managed to secure their lead over the ninety minutes but not without a loss too. Per Mertesacker, without the influence of an opponent, suffered a knee injury and was forced out of the game. On a more positive note, Frank Baumann replaced Aaron Hunt late on to make his first appearance since his achilles operation, and that against his former club – a joyous occasion for the fans and the club captain.

 

The match then finished in something of a scandel as referee Weiner blew up exactly as the three minutes of added time ended, despite the fact that Miroslav Klose had won the ball in midfield and was away on his own towards Schäfers goal. The 'Golden Boot' winner was understandably hopping mad, as a clear chance to score his 12th goal of the season was stolen away from him.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

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