Werder lose test in Leipzig

Werder could not hold a 1-0 lead as Leipzig turned the game around and won 2-1. (Photo: nph)
First Team
Tuesday, 23.07.2013 / 18:44

Despite a strong first half, SV Werder lost their fourth test match in a row, falling 2-1 Tuesday night at third division side RB Leipzig. Some 8,700 fans came out in Sahara-like heat and watched Niclas Füllkrug give the Green-Whites...

Despite a strong first half, SV Werder lost their fourth test match in a row, falling 2-1 Tuesday night at third division side RB Leipzig. Some 8,700 fans came out in Sahara-like heat and watched Niclas Füllkrug give the Green-Whites the lead after 13 minutes before Timo Röttger (45th) and Carsten Kammlott (59th) scored to give Leipzig the victory.

Head coach Robin Dutt sprang a surprise even before the match as he switched the usual 4-2-3-1 system to a 4-3-3 with Felix Kroos serving in the centre back position, which he recently played at the U23s, and Levent Aycicek surprisingly lined up at right back.

Early lead

Aycicek gave Marko Arnautovic a perfect pass in the 13th minute and the Austrian fed the ball onto Füllkrug, who pushed it over the goal for the lead 1-0 for Bremen. Werder continued to play well directly thereafter but could not take advantage of goal chances by Aycicek (14th), Joseph Akpala (15th) and Arnautovic (43rd). And Leipzig hit home the equalizer just seconds before the break with Röttger scoring from 16 yards out to make it 1-1, which was also the score at the break.

Both teams needed a couple water breaks in the hot temperatures at Red Bull Arena. (Photo: nph)

Leipzig fresher in second half

While Dutt did not make any chances at the half, Leipzig changed nearly their entire team and were the fresher side in the second 45 minutes. And the hosts took advantage of that in the 59th minute to take the lead 2-1 with Denis Thomalla passing to Kammlott, who beat Werder keeper Sebastian Mielitz with his shot.

Werder were unable to continue their fine play from the first half, and Mielitz was the main reason the Green-Whites stayed in the game. But when Eljero Elia missed a chance in the 84th minute, it was clear Werder would drop their fourth test match in a row.

"Of course I am not satisfied. We made too many mistakes, especially in aggressiveness. We gave Leipzig too much possession and could not implement our own approach from training. We tried today for the first time to line up individual building blocks. We still have a lot of work ahead of us. RB deserved to win," said Dutt about the match.

 

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