'Hugoals' Stuns Stuttgart

First Team
Sunday, 23.09.2007 / 11:37

The quickest brace in the history of the Bundesliga put Werder Bremen back on track on the sixth match day of the season. In just 50 (!) seconds, Hugo Almeida made it 2:0 for the Green-Whites

The quickest brace in the history of the Bundesliga put Werder Bremen back on track on the sixth match day of the season. In just 50 (!) seconds, Hugo Almeida made it 2:0 for the Green-Whites (3’, 4’). With a quarter hour played, the score stood at 3:1. First Mario Gomez reduced the deficit (13’) but two minutes later, Boubacar Sanogo restored Werder’s two goal cushion. Despite plenty of chances for both sides, there was only one more goal in a very enjoyable game. The, once again, stunning Diego made it 4:1 for the home side in the 89th minute.

 

A day of good news

 

It was a day of good news for Werder. The first joyous announcement was made before the game even started as general manager Klaus Allofs stated that playmaker and fans favourite Diego had extended his contract for a further year until 30.06.2011. Had the new contract put wind beneath the Brazilians wings? Anyone who saw him on the pitch later would certainly have gotten that impression.

 

The Brazilians playmaker’s first genuine involvement in the match was to lead to the opening goal. Diego fed Hugo Almeida, who was selected to start ahead of Markus Rosenberg, who played a one-two with Daniel Jensen and hammered the ball past Raphael Schäfer to make it 1:0. There were merely three minutes played and the Werder fans had barely finished celebrating before it was time to punch the air in joy once again. Just 50 seconds after going in front, Hugo Almeida struck again to make it 2:0. From an almost identical position to the first goal, the Portuguese international slammed the ball into the far corner.

 

Goals at will

 

“Hugoals” brace stunned Stuttgart who by that stage hadn’t once reached the Bremen penalty area. The early goals were to continue too. With a quick break, the German champions struck to reduce the deficit and put themselves back in the match. The home side lost the ball in the midfield and Cacau played Khedira through. The young VfB star burst forward before squaring to Mario Gomez who needed just to push the ball into an empty net – 2:1 (13’).

 

Bremen’s answer was an immediate one. Once again the Werder attack showed just how effective they can be and proved themselves to be a step ahead of the VfB defence. Boubacar Sanogo rose above Portuguese international Fernando Meira to flick a Petri Pasanen cross past Schäfer to make it 3:1 (15’).

 

Hugo forced out to rousing applause

 

Werder’s two goal lead was a well deserved one. The Green-Whites dominated the visitors, allowed the play to flow and won the bulk of the individual challenges. In addition, the home side had the upper hand in the creative midfield position. Almost every move went through Diego whilst VfB’s Yildiray Bastürk, who was playing his first game from the start since moving to Stuttgart, had very little influence and took little part in the active proceedings.

 

Following the explosive start, the game slumped somewhat but Bremen remained clearly in control. The one negative point for the Green-Whites was a foul by Pavel Pardo after 37 minutes that was to force Hugo Almeida out of the match. The Portuguese striker left the pitch to a standing ovation from the 40,000 string crowd at the Weser Stadium.

 

Evenly balanced second half

 

Stuttgart coach Armin Veh decided to make some changes during the half time break, bringing midfield man Alexander Farnerud for full back Ricardo Osorio and with that, effectively switching to a three man defence – a move that appeared to instantly inspire the visitors. With 51 minutes played, Roberto Hilbert hammered a shot against the crossbar which then crashed down on the goalline and bounced away from Tim Wiese’s goal. Nine minutes later, German striker Mario Gomez hit the pot from a very tight angle.

 

Werder were not nearly as dominant as they had been during the first period but remained threatening on the break – in particular through Diego. The little Brazilian went for the spectacular with an overhead kick on the hour which finished up just clearing the bar. Minutes later Diego put a pass from Jurica Vranjes just wide of the upright. The 22 year old was eventually rewarded for his efforts as he had a shot from distance deflected past the keeper by Antonio da Silva to make it 4:1 for the home side (89’). The win saw the Green-Whites rocket up the table from 13th to seventh place.

 

Johnnie Muldoon

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