Werder bremen have finished the 2006/2007 Bundesliga season in a very respectable third place. Thanks to a Markus Rosenberg brace (54’, 87’) the Green-Whites beat VfL Wolfsburg 2:0....
Werder bremen have finished the 2006/2007 Bundesliga season in a very respectable third place. Thanks to a Markus Rosenberg brace (54’, 87’) the Green-Whites beat VfL Wolfsburg 2:0....
Werder bremen have finished the 2006/2007 Bundesliga season in a very respectable third place. Thanks to a Markus Rosenberg brace (54’, 87’) the Green-Whites beat VfL Wolfsburg 2:0 on the last day of a long, hard season to finish as the best travelling side in the top flight. As Schalke 04 beat Armenia Bielefeld 2:1 in their final game, Werder will have to prepare for a summer qualification for next seasons Champions League.
For the first time in what seems like an age, Thomas Schaaf appeared spoiled for choice in his selection for his starting eleven for the north German derby in Wolfsburg. The coach decided on four changes to the side which was beaten 2:1 by Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Per Mertesacker returned to replace Petri Pasanen, Patrick Owomoyela came for Frank Baumann, Christian Schulz ousted Aaron Hunt and Hugo Almeida got the nod ahead of Markus Rosenberg.
12,000 Werder fans make the trip
Officially the last match of the season was played in Wolfsburg but the sound of the Werder faithful at the Volkswagen Arena could have fooled many into believing it was a home tie. 12,000 Werder supporters filled into the stadium in the Lower Saxon ‘Car-City’ to lend a powerful voice to the Green-Whites mission. With ten, uneventful minutes played, Werder saw the first signs of threat from the hosts. Lamprecht broke, capitalizing on a Pierre Womé mistake, but Tim Wiese was quick off his line to clear the danger. Bremen had a quick response in store. Following a foul by Kevin Hofland on Almeida, Torsten Frings swung in a free-kick from the right which Naldo headed just over the crossbar (12’). Miro Klose had a strike on goal after 19 minutes but his effort was blocked away.
Almeida misses the chance to take the lead
The game was beginning to shape up and Tim Wiese was twice called into action to deny Diego Klimowicz but it was the visitors from the Weser who had the better of the openings. Taking on a square ball from Frings, Klose passed on to Almeida who easily skipped past Jentzsch but delayed his shot too long and allowed Quiroga time to get back and clear the ball off the line (25’). Two minutes later it was the width of the post that denied Diego and from the rebound Owomoyela volleyed goal wards but found his master in the Wolfsburg keeper. The Brazilian playmaker tried his luck then soon after from distance but again Jentzsch was on hand. From the resulting corner Schulz headed over (30’). Werder had their fifth great chance in seven minutes as Frings hit from outside the box but nothing was to come of that either.
Wiese and the woodwork prevent deficit
Werder’s failure to capitalize on the chances they had was almost punished by the home side. Wolfsburg freed themselves from the Werder onslaught and looked dangerous. Frings got back to deny Boakye at the last second (43’). Two minutes later the striker finally got past Naldo to get a shot away which Wiese managed to turn against the post. The rebound fell to Marcelinho who hammered his effort off the crossbar – double luck for the visitors.
Rosenberg makes the difference
Thomas Schaaf opted to make two changes at half time bringing Daniel Jensen for Patrick Owomoyela and Markus Rosenberg for the again disappointing Miroslav Klose. Rosenberg’s introduction again showed the trainer to have the optimal eye for changes. The Swede was immediately involved as Werder upped the tempo right from the re-start and the reward soon followed. An inspired Diego laid off to Womé who crossed from the left and Rosenberg rose high in the middle to head home past a helpless Jentzsch – 0:1 (54’).
From that point the visitors took the foot off the pedal somewhat but never lost control of the match. Almeida with a volley (64’) and Rosenberg (72’) could have both doubled the visitors lead whilst at the other end Marcelinho had the best chance to equalize (78’).
With three minutes to go though, the game was put beyond the home team. Diego played Rosenberg through and the Swede’s shot was deflected unstoppably past the Wolfsburg keeper – 0:2. Rosenberg’s eight goal of the season was at the same time Werder’s 76th and final goal of a turbulent season with the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League as third placed Bundesliga team the very least they deserved.
Johnnie Muldoon
