Werder Bremen have bounced back in the run in to the title race with a highly deserved 4:1 win against Hertha BSC Berlin. The Green-Whites had gone into the game on the back of three defeats but thanks to goals from Markus Roseberg (19’, 50’ and 82’) and one from Diego (60’), Werder registered their return to winning ways. Gilberto did briefly give Hertha a straw to grasp at with a goal in the 61st minute. The club from the capital had been reduced to ten men during the first period after a brutal four by Josip Simunic on Christian Schulz.
Thomas Schaaf was forced into a number of changes in his starting eleven, in relation to the UEFA Cup semi final game against Espanyol, with Naldo, Hugo Almeida and Aaron Hunt all unavailable for the tie in the capital. Tim Wiese returned between the posts whilst Petri Pasanen and Frank Baumann filled the central defensive positions. On the left side of the defence, Piere Womé returned after several weeks out of action which meant Christian Schulz was pushed up into the left side of midfield as was Patrick Owomoyela on the right who played ahead of Clemens Fritz. Up front, Miroslav Klose was joined by Markus Rosenberg.
The 74,220 spectators packed into the Olympia Stadium in Berlin saw the home side make the brighter and fresher looking start of the two with Bastürk and Gilberto causing problems for Werder down the left. It was the Green-Whites who had the first chance of the game though through Diego. Klose had fed the little Brazilian but the Werder playmakers effort flew a good meter over the bar from 20 meters out (12’). Four minutes later, Pierre Womé tested Hertha keeper Christian Fiedler with a powerfully driven, bouncing free-kick from 30 meters out but the keeper was able to punch the ball clear.
Rosenberg pounces
Following a good opening quarter hour for the hosts, Werder raised their own game and put the Berlin club under pressure, winning the midfield challenges, playing determinedly and technically over-powering Hertha. Bremen’s superiority was soon to be turned to goals. Patrick Owomoyela passed to Markus Rosenberg on the left and the Swede hammered an unstoppable shot past Fiedler from 17 meters out to make it 1:0 (19’). Werder were now clearly in the driving seat and despite failing to look very threatening, they never allowed the home side a chance to get back into the game. In the 35th minute, Christian Gimenez did get a sight of Tim Wiese’s goal as Frank Baumann sliced an attempted clearance but luckily for the visitors, the striker lashed his turning effort well over the bar.
Schulz injured – Simunic sees red
Just seconds later there was another shock moment for Werder. Berlin centre half Josip Simunic launched himself towards Christian Schulz, with his boot at head height. The midfield man was caught in the face by the wild challenge of Simunic and suffered a cut to his eye-lid Neither of the players involved were able to continue with Schulz carried off, to be replaced Daniel Jensen, and Simunic correctly seeing red and having to head off for an early bath.
Just before the break, Werder had a couple of chances to double their lead with a drifted effort from Diego and another pile driving free-kick by Womé but as it turned out, the sides went into the break with Werder maintaining their slender lead.
Rosenberg and Diego bury Berlin
Five minutes into the second half, Diego swung a free-kick into the Hertha penalty area where Frank Baumann was able to control the ball and lay back to the on rushing Markus Rosenberg who buried past Fiedler to make it 2:0.
Werder were now flying and looking more relaxed than they had for some time. Instead of sitting back on a comfortable lead, the Green-Whites continued to press and it was with one of the best moves of the day that lead to Bremen’s third. Frings passed to Klose who laid off to Diego with his chest. The Brazilian took on the ball and approached his marker before beating the keeper with a perfect finish from a tight angle – 3:0 (60’).
Gilberto throws Berlin a lifeline – Rosenberg clinches hat-trick
Werder were slow to react from the re-start allowing both Dejagah and Gilberto to come at them before the latter beat Tim Wiese to make it 3:1. Berlin had the wind in their sails and almost managed a second through Bastürk to make for an exciting finish but the Turkish winger couldn’t make good of his chance (67’).
The game swung back and forward for ten further minutes before Werder finally took control of the tie again. Klose (72’), Diego (78’), Rosenberg (80’) and the substitute Vranjes (81’) all had chances to finish Hertha off before the Swede finally clinched his hat-trick after a fine pass from Diego to give the visitors a, not undeserved, 4:1 away win.
Johnnie Muldoon