Following the Champions League qualifying first leg tie against Dinamo Zagreb, Werder Bremen have a tough task ahead of them if they are to progress in the competition.
Following the Champions League qualifying first leg tie against Dinamo Zagreb, Werder Bremen have a tough task ahead of them if they are to progress in the competition.
Following the Champions League qualifying first leg tie against Dinamo Zagreb, Werder Bremen have a tough task ahead of them if they are to progress in the competition. Thomas Schaaf’s men narrowly beat Zagreb 2:1 (0:1) but the Croatian side displayed their class and showed just what they are capable of and will be well aware that a narrow win in the second leg will be enough to remain in the competition. The secret to Werder’s success was bulled determination and a couple of clever substitutions by Thomas Schaaf. Hugo Almeida made his first chance count (46’) and Daniel Jensen with a stunning strike (85’) helped the home side get their noses in front having gone behind to a Balaban goal just before the half time break.
Shaky start for Schaaf’s eleven
Thomas Schaaf made four changes to the starting eleven which begun against Bochum in the Bundesliga last Staurday. For the injured Clemens Fritz and Tim Borowski, Petri Pasanen and Carlos Alberto begun whilst Daniel Jensen and Markus Rosenberg were replaced by Frank Baumann and Kevin Schindler. The newly formed eleven made a shaky start to the match and the visitors from Zagreb found themselves in the Werder penalty area within the opening minute but luckily Per Mertesacker was alert enough to clear the danger. With three minutes played, Tim Wiese was caught on the wrong foot and was unable to prevent a simple back pass from Naldo from going out for a corner – luckily again for Werder, the set piece came to nothing.
The first real effort on goal came in the 12th minute as Carlos Alberto had his shot blocked down, the loose ball fell to Kevin Schindler but the youngster turned his effort high and wide from 22 meters out. Aside from those chances, the home side produced little going forward early on. A lack of creation and inspiring ideas coupled with some very imprecise passing played right into the hands of a determined and aggressive Dinamo side who would make openings of their own. Balban tried his luck from distance (20’) but the much talked about Modric came yet closer. The midfield playmaker brought the very best out of Tim Wiese with a 25 meter drive. The Werder keeper was at full stretch to turn the effort around the post for a corner (25’).
Dinamo take the initiative
Modric’s effort was to kick-off an intensive fifteen minute period. Firstly, Werder had their best chance of the match as Sanogo rode to meet a Pasanen delivery and headed on goal but the Zagreb keeper Koch managed to bat the ball off the line (30’). Then the visitors took control, Balban struck a shot just wide of the left post (33’), Modric failed to connect cleanly after Alberto lost the ball unnecessarily (35’) and then Balban burst through to gather a long pass from his own half but missed the target yet again (39’). Werder could only answer with a single shot from Sanogo which Koch could easily punch clear (41’). The Green-Whites were then forced into retreat as a combination of Naldo and the strong foot of Wiese were able to deny another Balban attack. As was probably on the cards, it was the visitors who took the lead going into the break. Substitute Mandzukic made his way down the right completely unchallenged and laid the ball back across the box from the by-line to Balban who, in spite of being surrounded by three Werder defenders, was able to knock the ball past Wiese to give Dinamo the lead (45’+1’).
Thomas Schaaf reacted to the less than impressive display from his side and introduced two new men for the second 45 minutes. Daniel Jensen and Hugo Almeida were sent into the fray to replace the non affective Andreasen and Schindler. With less than two minutes of the second half played it was suddenly all level again. Sanogo pounced on an unnecessary loss of possession in the Zagreb midfield and fed Almeida who was initially denied by Koch but the sliding tackle from defender Schildenfeld took the loose ball away from his keeper and back into the path of the Portuguese striker and Almeida needed only roll the ball into an empty net. Bremen were now more alert and came close to a second as Naldo hammered a free-kick just over the crossbar (50’). Zagreb were not about to rest on the draw and pushed forward again. Modric’s initial effort proved to imprecise and the follow up from Cale never really trouble the Werder goal (57’). The Green-Whites keeper was called into action five minutes later and was equal to the shot from Sammir (62’).
Jensen turns the tie
If shots from distance were to be the order of the night, Hugo Almeida showed he too packed a punch as he troubled Koch with a powerful left footed drive which the keeper could only punch clear (64’). Werder were in the driving seat and had their next chance just a minute later as baumann was played in by Schulz and Almeida but couldn’t keep his shot on target. Jensen decided to try his luck from distance and again forced Koch into an unconventional punched clearance (73’). In the 85th minute, the Dane went for power again and was more successful on this occasion. An out-of.form Diego played Jensen free and the substitute let fly from 25 yards, burying into the top right corner of the net – 2:1!!!
The tie was still not over and Naldo almost increased the Werder lead with a header which Koch again stopped on his line. At the other end, Mandzukic headed a meter wide with the goal at his mercy (93’). The game ended in a somewhat lucky 2:1 win for the home side who will need to produce a lot more if they are to survive the second leg in the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb in a fortnight.
Johnnie Muldoon
Werder Bremen- Dinamo Zagreb (first-leg) 2:1
Werder Bremen: Wiese - Pasanen, Mertesacker, Naldo, Schulz - Andreasen (46. Jensen), Baumann, Diego, Carlos Alberto (74. Harnik) - Schindler (46. Almeida), Sanogo; auf der Bank: Vander, Vranjes, Rosenberg, Niemeyer
Dinamo Zagreb: G. Koch - Etto, Drpic, Schildenfeld, Cale - Pokrivac, Vukojevic, Sammir (89. Guela), Modric - Sokota (38. Mandzukic), Balaban (80. Vrdoljak)
Goals: 0:1 Balaban (45.+1), 1:1 Almeida (46.), 2:1 Jensen (85.)
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spanien)
Attendance: Weser-Stadion: 26.136
Yellow cards: Naldo - Balaban, Cale, Pokrivac
