Werder fall to 4-1 defeat on the first day of the season

Hertha open scoring with two goals in five minutes
Maxi Eggestein and co. were defeated in the first game of the season at the wohninvest WESERSTADION (Picture: nordphoto).
Match Report
Saturday, 19.09.2020 / 17:32

It was not the start that Florian Kohfeldt and his team were hoping for. The first game of the new season saw SV Werder Bremen lose to Hertha BSC in front of 8,500 fans in the wohninvest WESERSTADION. The Berliners opened the scoring with two goals in five minutes as Pekarík (42’) and Lukébakio (45+2’) struck just before half time. Following the interval, Cunha added a third (63’), before Davie Selke threw the Green-Whites a lifeline with his 69th minute header. However, it was not to be as Jhon Córdoba closed out the game in the 90th minute.

Line-up and formation: Head coach Florian Kohfeldt made three changes to the side that started in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Loan-signing Tahith Chong made his Bundesliga debut following a strong showing and a goal against FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Davy Klaassen also returned to the starting XI after coming off the bench in the cup. Marco Friedl started in central defence alongside captain Niklas Moisander, replacing the injured Ömer Toprak.

Starting XI: Pavlenka, Augustinsson, Osako, Selke, Moisander, Sargent, Chong, Gebre Selassie, Klaassen, Friedl, M. Eggestein.

Substitutes: Kapino, Bittencourt, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Agu, J. Eggestein, Erras, Mbom, Woltemade.

Hertha strike twice in five minutes

Peter Pekarík finishes past Jiri Pavlenka to make it 1-0 to Hertha BSC (Picture: nordphoto).

First half highlights:

19th minute: Werder nearly go one behind as Krzysztof Piatek hits the crossbar. Following build-up play down the right, the Pole can only direct his header onto the frame of the goal.

32nd minute: Dedryck Boyata misplaces a pass to Tahith Chong, who plays in Josh Sargent down the left, but Hertha keeper Schwolow gets down low to save the American’s effort.

42nd minute: Hertha BSC open the scoring through Peter Pekarík. The Berliners attack down the left-hand side as Maximilian Mittelstädt whips in a low ball to the far post. Josh Sargent loses his man, allowing Peter Pekarík to creep in at the back and convert into an open net from close range.

44th minute: VAR intervenes to prevent a penalty for the away side. Peter Pekarík is brought down right on the edge of the box by Marco Friedl and the referee initially points to the spot. However following a review by VAR, the foul is deemed to have taken place outside the box and the penalty is overturned in favour of a free kick, which comes to nothing.

45+2 minute: Hertha BSC double their lead with their second goal in five minutes. Dodi Lukébakio breaks through on the left-hand side and smashes it into the back of the Werder net, giving Jiri Pavlenka no chance.

Selke gets Werder’s first of the season

Davie Selke scores Werder's first of the new Bundesliga season (Picture: nordphoto).

Second half highlights:

62nd minute: Hertha add a third. Substitute Jhon Córdoba beats Niklas Moisander and finds Matheus Cunha, who squeezes his effort under Jiri Pavlenka to make it three.

69th minute: Werder get one back! The team from the capital waste a good chance, before the Green-Whites get their first of the season down the other end. Ludwig Augustinsson carries the ball down the left and finds Davie Selke in the box with a great cross. Werder’s number 9 makes no mistake, rising higher than his marker to head into the back of the net.

71st minute: Pavlenka keeps it 3-1 with a fantastic save. Jhon Córdoba finds himself through on goal with just the Werder keeper to beat, but the Werder keeper rises to the challenge and saves with his feet.

90th minute: Hertha strike late to seal the result. Jhon Córdoba once again finds himself in space in a dangerous area and this time is able to capitalise on the chance, making no mistake to finish past Pavlenka for the Berliners’ fourth.

Conclusion: SV Werder Bremen failed to win on the opening day of the season for the seventh year running, as Pekarík and Lukébakio set up the win for Hertha with two quick goals just before the interval. Cunha struck again for Hertha before Selke pulled one back for the hosts with his 69th minute header. Despite Werder putting some good pressure on the opposition, Hertha never looked like losing their two-goal cushion, before Jhon Córdoba made sure of the away victory in the 90th minute. Kohfeldt’s team will be hoping to make amends for the loss on matchday 2, as Werder take on FC Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen next Saturday (18:30 CEST).

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