Another impressive performance by Werder Bremen on the 29th match day of the season finished in a 2:0 win at Borusia Dortmund.
Another impressive performance by Werder Bremen on the 29th match day of the season finished in a 2:0 win at Borusia Dortmund.
Another impressive performance by Werder Bremen on the 29th match day of the season finished in a 2:0 win at Borusia Dortmund. Miroslav Klose scored his twelveth goal of the season on the half hour to put the Green-Whites in front and ten minutes later Diego spectacularly bent a free-kick in from 18 meters to seal Dortmunds faith.
Werder started with the very eleven which so convincingly cruised past AZ Alkmaar with a 4:1 win to reach the UEFA Cup semi finals and the decision not to change a winning team appeared to be the correct one as the visitors started in similar fashion as they had done three days previously. Thomas Schaaf's men continually pressed towards the BVB goal but against a tightly packed defence it took until the 19th minute before Werder could get a serious shot on goal. Miroslav Klose crossed from the left and found the head of Diego who had powered into the box. The Brazilians header was somehow blocked by BVB keeper Roman Weidenfeller who remarkably got his hands up in a lightening reflex to prevent his side going behind. Two minutes later a chance fell to Klose after a mistake in the centre by Dortmund but instead of shooting himself, the German international chose to pass to Aaron Hunt who was standing in an offside position.
Klose scores during Dortmund's best period
The relegation threatened home side had little to lift their fans hearts early in the tie but that would change dramatically after 25 minutes. In a goalmouth scramble, Florian Kringe profitted from a poor, attempted clearance by Naldo but Tim Weise was able to stick out his left boot to turn the shot away. Kringe tried his luck again shortly after after a one-two with Steven Pienaar but this time saw his effort zip wide of the upright from 13 meters out (27'). Two minutes later it was time to celebrate at the Signal Iduna Park, but only for the travelling fans under the 81,000 at the collousal stadium. Patrick Owomoyela stole the ball from Kringe in the midfield and burst down the left. The 'emergency' left full-back crossed into the box where Aaron Hunt threw himself toward the ball but failed to connect, happily for Werder, Klose had broken free at the back post and could turn the ball home from seven meters.
Diego teases a free-kick past the stranded keeper
Immediately from the re-start, Tinga had the chance to pull his side back level but from then on it was clearly the Green-Whites in the driving seat. The ever impressive Diego made the task doubly difficult for the hosts on 39 minutes. Werder's number ten stepped up to take a free-kick – central position, 18 meters out. The following was a strike from the very top drawer of footballing excellence as the Brazilian bent the ball over and around the wall into the top left corner of the net. One of the best goals you will see all season.
The Werder fans celebrations were nothing if not extremely euphoric and rang around an otherwise rather still arena. The Green-Whites on the pitch were well aware that there was work to do before the real celebrations could begin though. BVB came out for the second half in much more determined mood and pushed to get back into the game. Owomoyela cleared from Frei (46'), Smolarek missed out on a Tinga delivery and Wiese made a good save from Smolarek (59') during BVB's second strong period of the day.
Knee injury for Borowski
Werder were forced into a personnel change after 52 minutes as Frank Baumann came to replace Tim Borowski who'd suffered a knee injury. After the hour mark, Werder could increasingly relieve themselves from the Borussia pressure and had the chance to put the game well beyond their hosts with a number of pacy breaks. Hunt pounced on a mistake by Degen but was found his master in Weidenfeller. The young striker then made way for Markus Rosenberg.
The Swede was a matter of seconds on the pitch and could have scored Werder's third. It was again Diego who started the move, spreading the play to Vranjes who crossed into the centre where Rosenberg failed to make a clean connection from point blank range. The miss was to have no effect on the games outcome with Dortmund producing nothing other than a free-kick which Tim Wiese could deal with (80'). Not even the introduction of ex-Werder striker Nelson Valdez could change BVB's fortunes.
The win was an important one for the visitors who keep the pressure on league leaders Schalke in the race to take the German championship.
Johnnie Muldoon
