Successful gallop, patience mastered with a little trembling: Bundesliga soccer team Werder Bremen has solved its first mandatory task after the resurgence lackluster.
In the DFB Cup, the team coached by Ole Werner won 2-1 (1-0) at the regional league team Energie Cottbus and thus avoided a first-round exit like last year.
Romano Schmid (43′) and Mitchell Weiser (73′) scored in the sold-out stadium for the favorites to win, while substitute Tim Heike (79′) scored the goal.
In the league, the Werder relegation project begins on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) with the north duel at VfL Wolfsburg.
Werder Bremen as a guest in the cauldron
“The mood will get heated. I think it’s a very important point that you’re there from the first minute,” Clemens Fritz, Bremen’s head of professional football and scouting, demanded before the game.
Even before kick-off, the 20,078 spectators, including a noisy Werder fan block, turned the stadium into a cauldron.
The guests followed Fritz’s words with action and immediately seized control of the game, while the underdog started aggressively early on. It didn’t take long for the first big chance: Werder striker Marvin Ducksch, set in scene by Weiser, failed with a low direct shot from eleven meters at the left post (10th).
Shaky final phase for Werder Bremen
Bremen continued to set the tone and constricted energy in their own half. Ducksch again aimed just over the goal after a nice combination (22nd). Five minutes later it was almost time when Cottbus keeper Alexander Sebald played the ball into Ducksch’s feet. But strike partner Niclas Füllkrug was too surprised by the unexpected opportunity.
The regional league team then came up with relief attacks more often, but did not develop any danger. Werder was rewarded for the great effort. Schmid turned a dry pass from Füllkrug into the right corner.
After the change of sides, Cottbus also made offensive claims: Axel Borgmann just missed the target from 20 meters. In return, Ducksch carelessly missed the chance to calm Werder’s nerves: Instead of the goal, he only hit the left post from five meters.
The game became rougher, Bremen only put a few pinpricks forward. Then, after a deflected Ducksch shot, Weiser made the supposed preliminary decision. Heike raised tension again, in the final phase Cottbus pressed for the equalizer.