Another 2-2 draw - Werder take home a point against Leverkusen

An own goal, a comeback and VAR
Josh Sargent und Leo Bittencourt contest a thrilling game against Julian Baumgartlinger und Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Photo: nph).
Match Report
Saturday, 26.10.2019 / 20:30

Werder draw 2-2 for the third successive game after a pulsating Topspiel at Leverkusen on Saturday night. An Ömer Toprak own goal gave B04 an early lead after four minutes, before Milot Rashica's deflected shot levelled things just before the break (40'). Davy Klaassen then put Kohfeldt's side ahead five minutes after the break, but Lucas Alario equalised just ten minutes later. Two handballs caused plenty of controversy late on.

Lineup and formation: Ömer Toprak makes his return to the starting XI after a spell on the sidelines due to injury. He replaces Milos Veljkovic in the team that started last week’s 1-1 draw to Hertha BSC, who drops to the bench. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt lines his side up in a fluid 4-3-3 system.

Werder’s starting XI: Pavlenka, Groß, Friedl, Toprak, Gebre Selassie, Sahin, Klaassen, M. Eggestein, Rashica, Bittencourt, Sargent

On the bench: Kapino, Lang, Langkamp, Veljkovic, J. Eggestein, Goller, Woltemade, Bargfrede

Rashica cancels out early own goal

Goalscorers Milot Rashica and Davy Klaassen celebrate the equaliser (Photo: nph).

The highlights from the first half: 

4th minute: Leverkusen take the lead. The hosts earn their third corner of the game as Lucas Alario’s flick-on falls to Ömer Toprak at the back post, who puts the ball into his own net, giving Jiri Pavlenka no chance. What an unfortunate start to the game, however there’s still a long time to turn things around. 

15th minute: Werder are starting to come into the game a bit more. Josh Sargent has the first shot of the game for the visitors after a swift counter-attack; however his strike travels harmlessly wide.

30th minute: Almost an equaliser! Nuri Sahin launches a great counter and releases Milot Rashica down the left-hand side, who whips it in towards Josh Sargent but the American can’t quite get his shot on target. The Green-Whites are getting closer to an equaliser. 

40th minute: GOOAALLL. 1-1! Milot Rashica grabs the equaliser! The Kosovan carries the ball into the centre of the pitch and finds himself in acres of space before his deflected strike finds it way into the back of the net. What a goal, and well deserved! 

Controversy in added time

Christian Groß defends passionately to earn a point (Photo: nph).

The highlights from the second half:

48th minute: GOAL for The Green-Whites! What a start, and from the right team this time! Sargent suddenly finds himself in acres of space in the box after a throw in and he sees Klaasen arriving at the edge of the box. Klaasen's shot deflected off Dragovic and into the net. Werder in Leverkusen-mode again!

58th minute: Leverkusen equalise. Karim Bellarabi is a split second quicker than Marco Friedl and he makes some space to whip the ball into the box. Alario gets his foot on it and slots it in the bottom right corner, but even that couldn't throw Werder off course.

71st minute: Leverkusen score but the goal is ruled out by VAR. Toprak hits the ball against Alario’s hand in the lead-up to the goal. What Niclas Füllkrug was penalised for in the game against Hoffenheim on matchday two has come to Werder’s rescue this time around. 

90th minute +1: Not given! Goller tries to cut inside from the by-line but Tah stops him from doing so with his hand. However, the referee waves away the protests for a penalty. Unbelievable! The full-time whistle is blown shortly afterwards.  
 

 

Match summary: The two dropped points will be missed, but the team at least got one. After going behind early, the Green-Whites appeared unphased and deservedly put themselves in front. After that, Leverkusen put a lot of pressure on Werder though and eventually they had to see the game out for a point. Werder did get a little lucky not to concede a third too as the handball regulations disallowed a penalty for Leverkusen. Nevertheless the point was well-earned and the team worked hard for it. On Wednesday 30th October, SVW will play in the second round of the DFB-Pokal against second division side 1. FC Heidenheim, with the next Bundesliga game being played on 2nd November against SC Freiburg (15:30 CET).

 

 
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