Werder Bremen could manage no more than a 1:1 (1:0) draw in the final friendly of their pre-season preparations against Danish first division side Esbjerg FB on Tuesday night.
Werder Bremen could manage no more than a 1:1 (1:0) draw in the final friendly of their pre-season preparations against Danish first division side Esbjerg FB on Tuesday night.
Werder Bremen could manage no more than a 1:1 (1:0) draw in the final friendly of their pre-season preparations against Danish first division side Esbjerg FB on Tuesday night. At the Egsfield Ground stadium in Faaborg on the island of Fünen, 3,100 spectators saw a superior Werder side fail to turn their chances into goals. The Green-Whites took the lead through Boubacar Sanogo in the 19th minute but had their lead cancelled out by Jesper Mikkelsen in the second half (56’).
Changes all around
Trainer Thomas Schaaf made quite a few changes to the starting eleven compared to the side which played against Eintracht Braunschweig in the DFB Cup on Saturday. Christian Vander filled in between the posts for Tim Wiese whilst new signing Dusko Tosic started on the left side of the back four. Christian Schulz started at the centre of defence in place of the injured Naldo with Jurica Vranjes starting in the number six position. Kevin Schindler begun on the left side of midfield and Daniel Jensen covered for the injured Diego behind the strikers.
For all of the changes, Werder appeared to have no problems. The team looked stable and slowly but surely began to take control of proceedings, producing the first chance of the game after just ten minutes. Tim Borowski won the ball in midfield and launched a pass towards Sanogo who cut the ball back across the box where Esbjerg’s Jonas Bjurström cleared the ball with his hand – unintentionally according to referee Claus Bo Larsen – and play was allowed to continue.
’Sano-Goal’ on target yet again
Werder were gaining more and more control and had the bulk of the possession, allowing the play to flow in midfield whilst waiting for an opening in the Esbjerg defence – and they were soon to find one. Firstly Sanogo was denied by FB keeper Lars Winde (15’) but the Werder striker fared better four minutes later. New man Desko Tosic, who interpreted his roll very offensively, played to Jensen who in turn played the ball out wide to Markus Rosenberg. The Swede’s delivery found Mr. Reliable Boubacar Sanogo who buried the ball from ten meters out (19’) – the fourth goal in four games for the new striker, an impressive early record for his new club.
Esbjerg looked distinctly harmless during this period with just a wayward ball after a challenge between Schulz and Niki Zimling landing within the danger area but the Werder keeper was untroubled – the best chance of the game so far for the Danish club (22’). Just on the half hour, Esbjerg stepped up their game as Rajko Lekic broke down the right and crossed to Jesper Lange in the centre. The front man attempted a flying volley but again failed to test Christian Vander. At the other end, the German visitors had numerous chances to extend their lead with Borowski hitting the post from five meters out (33’), before Daniel Jensen sliced wide three minutes later. A brief excursion goal wards by Lange was cut out by Vander (40’). Werder had the last chance before the half-time break but Rosenberg couldn’t convert Schulz’s well delivered cross (43’).
Schaaf gives seven U23 heroes a run out
Thomas Schaaf made a number of changes to his side for the second period. During the course of the second half, the coach introduced seven players from the U23 team which so successfully bowled 1. FC Köln out of the DFB Cup on Sunday. The Danes had the first good chance after the break but Vander was spectacularly equal to Lange’s 25 meter drive (49’). At the other end, Esbjerg’s substitute keeper Tally Hall was doing his job too by keeping out both Rosenberg (53’) and Frank Löning (54’).
The Danes equaliser did come as something of a surprise. Alexander Hessel attempted to play football in his own penalty area instead of convincingly clearing the danger. The youngster lost the ball and was punished for his mistake as the ball fell to Jesper Mikkelsen who slotted past Vander to make it 1:1 (56’). Werder regained their composure but goal mouth scenes were few and far between. Per Mertesacker missed out on a header for Werder (61’) whilst both Njogu Demba-Nyren (67’) and Anders Nohr (70’) could have given Esbjerg the lead if not for the heroics of Vander. The Green-Whites had the last chance of the game through Vranjes but the Croatian’s free-kick proved off target. On the whole, Werder were the better team and should probably have won the tie based on their first half performance.
Johnnie Muldoon
Esbjerg fB - Werder Bremen 1:1
Esbjerg FB: Winde (46. Hall) – Hansen, Zimling, Hogh (46. Flittie Onstad), Mikkelsen – Bjurström, Klarström, Jorgensen, Murcy – Lange, Lekic (46. Demba-Nyren).
Werder Bremen: Vander – Niemeyer, Schulz (46. Hessel), Mertesacker, Tosic (46. Theuerkauf) – Vranjes, Schindler (46. Harnik), Borowski (61. Artmann), Jensen (61.Kruse) – Sanogo (46.Löning), Rosenberg.
Goals: 0:1 Sanogo (19.), 1:1 Mikkelsen (56.)
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Odense)
Attendance: Stadion Egsfield Ground: 3.100 spectators
