Werder Overcome Early Shock To Beat Aachen 3:1

First Team
Saturday, 21.04.2007 / 08:08

Werder Bremen have once again returned to the top of the Bundesliga table, if only for one night. In a game which had phases which could only be described as electrifying, the Green-Whites eventually beat Alemannia Aachen 3:1 (0:1).

Werder Bremen have once again returned to the top of the Bundesliga table, if only for one night. In a game which had phases which could only be described as electrifying, the Green-Whites eventually beat Alemannia Aachen 3:1 (0:1). The visitors took the lead through Sergio Pinto with just two minutes played but it was the half time ‘Super-Substitutes’ Daniel Jensen (50’) and Markus Rosenberg (56’) who turned the tie on it’s head. Diego finished off the scoring in injury time with a breathtaking strike from no less than 62 meters!!!!

 

There was a forced late change to the Green-Whites starting eleven. With Tim Borowski unable to partake, captain Frank Baumann made his first start for five months and returned to his familiar ‘Number 6’ roll in front of the back four.

 

Ebbers and Pinto catch Werder napping

 

A 40,300 strong crowd at the Weser Stadium saw the home side get caught napping very early in the tie and the visitors take a shock lead. The Green-Whites had pushed up to deal with a free-kick close to the Aachen penalty area and as the guests launced their counter attack, Werder were caught napping and paid the penalty for their lapse in concentration. Marius Ebbers crossed from the right and found Sergio Pinto in the centre. Pinto’s original effort was blocked down by Tim Wiese but the Aachen man managed to get a foot to the loose ball and turn it home – 0:1.

 

Schaaf’s eleven wasted no time in responding to the shock and piled the pressure on their relegation troubled visitors with a constant peppering of their goal. Werder were determined to even things out as quickly as possible and just two minutes after the Alemannia goal, the home side had their first opportunity to draw level through Miroslav Klose. The German international took on a pass from Aaron Hunt and burst forward, rounding the goal keeper Kristian Nicht, but dragged the ball too far wide and was unable to turn it back on goal, finding only the outside netting.

 

Chance upon chance, but no reward

 

There ensued interesting and open tie but, for all their efforts, the home side failed to consequently finish off their chances. Aachen were not hiding away and had the opportunity to make it 0:2 as Jan Schlaudraff and Marius Ebbers broke but luckily, for the Bundesliga’s second placed side, to no avail (13’). The crowd were euphorically spurning their team forward in what was developing into an absolute onslaught on the Aachen goal.

 

Just by way of an example of the openings created: Diego leaves Fiel in his wake and drives past Lehmann but drags his shot a foot wide of the mark (18’).Taking on a wonderful pass from Torsten Frings, again Diego breaks, leaving Heidrich unable to recover but on this occasion Klitzpera could get a foot in and clear the danger (22’). Again Frings was involved, delivering a free-kick into the box where the unmarked Frank Baumann got a header in but had his effort blocked away (23’). Hunt laid a pass off to the on rushing Frings whose drive from 16 meters was turned over by Nicht (25’). From the resulting corner, Kloses shot from 16 meters out whisked centimeters past the post…And so it continued. Aachen were caught under the constantly rotating Werder cogs but the home side had no luck in their attempts to equalise before the break despite further chances through Baumann (38’, 40’) and Diego (43’, 45’).

 

Super-Subs turn the tides

 

The second half got underway and there was little difference as to how the first 45 minutes had ended, aside from on the personnel front. Daniel Jensen and Markus Rosenberg came for Frank Baumann and Jurica Vranjes. Two chages that would prove decisive on the outcome of the match.

 

A wonderful combination, started by the again impressive Patrick Owomoyela at left back, would lead to Werder promtly getting back on level terms. Rosenberg flicked a back heeled pass on to Miro Klose who, in turn, picked out the run of Daniel Jensen. The Dane controlled the pass and shot past Nicht to make it 1:1. Six minutes later there was even more for the home crowd to shout about. A pass from Jensen broke to Rosenberg who bustled his way past Klitzpera and hammered his shot through the keepers legs – 2:1.

 

Diego – simply breathtaking

 

Werder had turned a fascinating match on it’s head but wanted a third goal to put the game well and truly beyond Aachen. Owomoyela struck the crossbar (61’), Miro Klose the post (78’) and Diego had two further chances to get his name on the score sheet – the Brazilians chance would come though, and how.

 

The visitors threw what they had left into attack and a string of set pieces lead to the Green-Whites having to defend their slender lead with all their might. The fans were looking nervous but there was to be a happy end for the home team under the floodlights at the Weser Stadium. The last kick of the game was to produced Werder’s much sought after third goal. Aachen’s keeper Nicht had joined the attack for a last gasp effort but the cross toward the Werder box was cleared as far as Diego. The Brazilian took a quick look up to assess the situation before shooting from his own half to find the empty Alemannia goal with an effort from all of 62 meters.

 

That was it! A fantastic Werder performance was eventually rewarded with a convincing win and, for the first time since match day 19, the Green-Whites took back top spot in the league table. Werder have set out their stall and plan to stay where they are until after the 34th match day and bring the German title back to Bremen.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

 

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