Wolfsburg 2-3 Werder Bremen
The Wolves lost their third successive match since the winter break, as they went down 2-3 against Werder Bremen in front of 28, 000 in the VOLKSWAGENARENA on Sunday evening. The Wolves were put under pressured by the reigning Bundesliga champions from the start, and the first chance of the match fell to Werder’s German international striker Klose after only 2 minutes. It was at first plain to see that coach Erik Gerets’ injury depleted side were nervous as they easily gave possession away.
Wolfsburg improve
It took the home side 15 minutes to find their feet and begin to have an impact on the game. The danger from the home side usually involved their lightning quick Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov, who had some real scraps with Werder’s Canadian defender Paul Stalteri.
Superb opening goal
Wolfsburg took the lead on 26 minutes as Quiroga cleared ahead of Borowski and immediately brought Petrov into play. The Bulgarian ghosted past Stalteri before delivering a pinpoint cross onto the head of the advancing Thomas Brdaric who powered in a close range header to put his side in front. For Brdaric, who has been excluded from the Germany squad to face Argentina in Düsseldorf on Wednesday evening, it was his 9th goal of the season. Nothing much happened after that and so the Wolves went into the half time break with a slender one goal lead.
Thiam makes it 2-0
The Wolves got a dream start after the half time break. On 49 minutes Thiam received the ball in acres of space in midfield, and passed to Petrov on the left wing. Once again he passed Stalteri and crossed into the Bremen box, where Thiam was waiting to finish off the move he had started by gleefully heading home his side’s second goal, leaving Reike in the Werder goal no chance whatsoever.
Werder strike back
Seconds later the champions struck back, as a long ball by Stalteri found Klose who won a battle with Quiroga before nodding the ball home from close range. Werder had now smelt blood so to speak and began to put the home side under periods of intense pressure. On 59 minutes, the visitors won their 9th corner of the match. The ball came to Stalteri who passed to Magnin on the edge of the Wolfsburg box. The Frenchman tried his luck from 23 metres out and an unsighted new Wolves captain Simon Jentzsch was powerless as the ball flew past him for the Werder equaliser.
Jentzsch in top form
Werder got the wind in their sails and began pressing towards the Wolfsburg goal, with Klose in particular causing havoc at the back. On 77 minutes a goal-bound header by Klose was somehow kept out by Jentzsch who produced a string of stunning saves to keep Bremen at bay.
Valdez does it again…
Three minutes from time, not even the heroics of their keeper could salvage a point from the round 20 clash for the Wolves, although they nearly did. A shot was only parried into the path of Klose by Jentzsch, and the Bremen goal getter unselfishly put in a delicate cross into the Wolves’ six yard box where the second half substitute Valdez was waiting to score with a header from close range and in doing so, break the Wolfsburg hearts. As if defeat was not enough, Martin Petrov picked up his fifth yellow card and will miss the mega-tough trip to Schalke in round 21.
Werder is back in business, the Wolves have a problem…
WOLFSBURG: Jentzsch; Sarpei (89. Maric), Franz, Quiroga, Weiser; Schnoor; Karhan, Thiam; Petrov; Topic (Fischer 72.), Brdaric
WERDER BREMEN: Reinke; Pasanen, Baumann (52. Jensen), Fahrenhorst (66. Schulz), Stalteri; Borowski, Ernst, Magnin; Micoud; Klose, Klasnic (75. Valdez)
GOALS: 1-0, Brdaric (26'); 2-0, Thiam (49'); 2-1, Klose (50'); 2-2, Magnin (59'); 2-3, Valdez (87')
BUNDESLIGA
Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Bayern 20 41
2. Schalke 20 38
3. Stuttgart 20 35
4. Bremen 20 34
5. Hertha 20 33
...
9. Wolfsburg 20 31
Source: vfl-wolfsburg.de
