Werder Bremen won their first friendly game of the 2007/2008 season with a 7:2 (2:2) victory against non-league TuS Pewsum. In the tie, which was part of the Green-Whites pre-season trainings camp on Norderney....
Werder Bremen won their first friendly game of the 2007/2008 season with a 7:2 (2:2) victory against non-league TuS Pewsum. In the tie, which was part of the Green-Whites pre-season trainings camp on Norderney....
Werder Bremen won their first friendly game of the 2007/2008 season with a 7:2 (2:2) victory against non-league TuS Pewsum. In the tie, which was part of the Green-Whites pre-season trainings camp on Norderney, the Bundesliga’s third place side from 06/07 took some time to come to terms with a very determined East Frisian side. Werder took the lead through goals from Niemeyer and Womé but a brace from Ingo Ukena saw the minnows from Lower Saxony draw level. After the break, Leon Andreasen put Werder back in front before goals from Borowski, Schindler, Baumann and again Andreasen before time saw the Green-Whites finish with a clear win.
Island sport facility a sell-out
The game, which was played at the 3,000 capacity ‘Sportplatz an der Mühle’ on Norderney began interestingly. TuS Pewsum were up for the challenge and made for a very open exchange. The first shot on goal came after ten minutes from Markus Rosenberg but the legendary Pewsum keeper André Popp turned the Swede’s effort around the post.
Six minutes later though the keeper was left picking the ball out of the net. Peter Niemeyer, who started in midfield, pounced on a defensive error to shove the ball past the advancing keeper – 1:0 for Werder. Just three mintes later the Bundesliga side were at it again. Pierre Womé gathered the ball in his own half and carried it forward before letting fly from 40 meters out which Popp could do little to prevent his side going two down. The keeper, who was playing his final game, then made two fantastic saves from Niemeyer and Rosenberg before he took his bow in the half hour to rapturous applause.
Werder continued to control the play and Rosenberg was denied his goal again, this time by the width of the crossbar. Pewsum managed to release the pressure on their defence impressively and proved successful against a lacklustre Werder defence. Ingo Ukena sprinted to meet a back pass aimed towards Christian Pander, chipped the keeper and slotted into an empty net to make it 2:1 (33’). Just six minutes later the sides were back on level terms. Ukena got his head to a long ball from the midfield and flicked an arched header over the keeper to make it 2:2 (39’).
Werder coach Thomas Schaaf was not at all surprised: “It’s always difficult to play a game after such a tough week of training. The energy levels drop after 30 minutes as does the concentration and then even sides like Pewsum get their openings which they used very well.”
Andreasen makes his mark
As expected, after the break Thomas Schaaf made ten personnel changes, with only Alexander Hessel remaining on the pitch. After fifteen minutes, it was a Danish co-production that gave Werder the lead again. Leon Andreasen and Daniel Jensen combined to break down the TuS defence and Andreasen finished the move off well (64’). The game padded forward without much excitement until Tim Borowski slipped up through the gears to force his side forward, combining with Baumann and Schindler to volley home (79’).
Thomas Schaaf’s men had the hang of goal scoring now and Kevin Schindler this time went from provider to scorer after a one-two with Max Krause to make it 5:2 (84’). Frank Baumann and Leon Andreasen got on the score sheet again to make the final score a satisfactory 7:2.
“We were tired, our legs were heavy but that’s just how it is after trainings camp”, explained Andreasen after the game. The midfield commented after a strong second half and a brace of his own: “Personally I’m very satisfied. I’ve been away for half a year but a lot came together today.”
Both trainers satisfied
Thomas Schaaf had plenty of praise for his tired and rain soaked players after a long week of training: “It was quite o.k. all things considered. It’s important that the lads dig deep in such situations and make the best of them. That’s exactly what my team did today.”
Schaaf’s opposite number Ralf Ammermann was rather satisfied with just a five goal difference against Werder Bremen. Contrary to last year, this time his men got to celebrate twice themselves: “Compliments to my team, not anyone could score two goals against Werder. We held our own very well. For the last half hour we had all six new men on the pitch and you could see were the seams begun to rip.”
Werder will wish to prove themselves when they take on an East Frisian selection on Sunday, 08.08.2007 in Loga (Leer) to bring their first trainings camp to a close.
Werder Bremen 1.Halbzeit: Vander – Wome, Hessel, Stallbaum, Fritz – Frings, Vranjes, Niemeyer, Artmann – Löning, Rosenberg
Werder Bremen 2.Halbzeit: Wiese – Theuerkauf, Hessel, Mertesacker, Owomoyela – Baumann, Kruse, Andreasen, Borowski – Schindler, Jensen
TuS Pewsum Startelf: Popp – Dörfel, Schill, Willms, Kahl - Dielenschneider, Peters, Kruse, Boekhoff – Ukena, Hoferichter
Johnnie Muldoon
